The NBA is set to clamp down on flopping this year, introducing new guidelines aimed at enhancing gameplay by penalizing players who attempt to deceive referees into calling a foul. This initiative is the league’s latest effort to address unsportsmanlike conduct, following measures to curb non-basketball plays and limit take fouls that disrupt the game’s flow.
The competition committee adopted the guidelines in July, enabling referees to issue technical fouls for deceptive actions. This approach is a departure from the anti-flopping program introduced in 2012 by then-commissioner David Stern, which primarily relied on postgame reviews and escalating fines, and saw a decline in enforcement post-2014.
What is considered a flop?
The new guidelines focus on penalizing “secondary, theatrical, and exaggerated movements” (STEM) to distinguish genuine actions from flops. The goal is to eliminate glopping without embarrassing players, according to Monty McCutchen, the NBA‘s head of referee development and training. STEM movements include excessive flailing and unnecessary actions that might cause injuries. However, natural reactions to contact will not incur penalties.
Examples of potential flops were highlighted, involving players like Marcus Smart, James Harden, Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gobert, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Patrick Beverley.
Flopping technicals won’t contribute to a player’s ejection, and coaches won’t be able to challenge flop calls. Missed calls can result in retroactive fines starting at $2,000. The league believes immediate penalties, like free throws, will deter flopping, pointing to the success of recent rule changes in reducing transition take fouls.
McCutchen emphasized the objective is not to punish but to eliminate this aspect of the game, aiming for a balanced approach that maintains the integrity of the competition.
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