Offensive Flopping: NBA Committee Evaluates Potential Changes

May 25, (THEWILL) – The NBA is contemplating the implementation of a new regulation aimed at curbing the issue of flopping by defenders during drives to the basket.

The NBA Competition Committee is presently engaged in discussions regarding the potential awarding of technical free throws to the opposing team when a player flops. This rule could potentially be trialled in Summer League games set to commence in July. Flopping has persistently plagued the NBA, particularly in situations where offensive players make aggressive moves toward the basket, creating a challenge for officials to distinguish between charging and blocking fouls.

Instances of flopping are also prevalent when players become entangled under the basket while vying for rebounds, when manoeuvring through screens, or when attempting to exaggerate minimal contact to draw fouls. During the Los Angeles Lakers’ triumph over the Golden State Warriors in the second round of this year’s playoffs, the Lakers frequently found themselves at the free-throw line.

Warriors Head Coach, Steve Kerr, accused the Lakers of engaging in flopping and urged the league to address the issue, stating: “To me, what I’ve learned coaching in FIBA… There’s a flop rule. If a referee determines a player has flopped, they simply call it a technical foul, and it’s quite punitive. Thus, flopping has essentially been eradicated from FIBA, and we have the capability to do the same in the NBA if we choose to. I believe we should tackle this, as players are incredibly astute, and the entire regular season becomes a game of gamesmanship and attempts to deceive the referees.

“This has been the norm for a while, and it is incumbent upon us as a league to decide whether we want to rectify this. These are all personal pleas to the NBA from me. I believe we can improve in terms of eliminating flopping. In the meantime, I credit the Lakers for the plays they have successfully sold.”