In 2008, the NBA threatened to fine any player who was found guilty of flopping, or overly embellishing contact in order to get a foul call. There were zero fines handed out that season. Rasheed Wallace had a great quote that year about the controversial tactic:
"All that bull[expletive]-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] -- you've all seen that [expletive]. You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that [expletive]. That [expletive] ain't basketball out there. It's all [expletive] entertainment. You all should know that [expletive]. It's all [expletive] entertainment."
In case that wasn't enough, Wallace was later the same year quoted as saying:
"They've got to know that he's a damn flopper. That's all Turkodoodoo do. Flopping shouldn't get you nowhere. He acts like I shot him. That's not basketball, man. That's not defense. That's garbage, what it is. I'm glad I don't have too much of it left."
Turkodoodoo, hehe.
In 2012, the NBA instituted the first official penalty for flopping into its rulebook. A player would receive one warning, and the following offense would cost him $5,000. If he did it again, the fine would increase to $10,000. A fourth offense would cost him $15,000 and a fifth would cost $30,000. Any flopping penalties past five would result in suspension. As of this article's publication, there have been 30 flopping penalties handed down by the league office this season alone. Four players have been fined $5,000 each for multiple offenses. Players seem to be willing to take at least the warning in exchange for a beneficial call in the heat of the moment. So what's the next step?
As of February 20, the NBA Development League is now issuing technical fouls for a perceived flop. This is similar to the process used by FIBA. The call will be made in the moment and then reviewed at the next dead ball. If the flop is confirmed, a technical foul is assessed. In the last two minutes of the game, any flopping calls will be reviewed and technicals will be assessed immediately.
"There isn't a better place to experiment with NBA rules than in the NBA D-League, and we are pleased to test this experimental rule that, for the first time, creates an in-game penalty for flopping," said NBADL President Dan Reed. "The NBA D-League is the research and development laboratory for the NBA and both leagues are always evaluating ways to further the game."
The new flopping rules are not the only ones being tested in the NBA D-League this season, as the league is also experimenting with international goal-tending rules and shortened timeouts.
If the NBA decides to adopt this method as well, it could be accelerated by the new instant review rules, which are set to begin next season and will setup an off-site location where plays will be reviewed as they happen, so we aren't reduced to watching refs watch themselves for 15 minutes. A simple call from the office and we're ready to go, similar to the NFL's booth review or the NHL's "situation room."
This would obviously give the players a greater incentive to stop flopping, because the penalty would not only cost their team a point, but could issue in an ejection if combined with a second technical foul. Do you think this is a good idea or not? Vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments section.