Most NBA players, coaches, and fans have been frustrated with an increase in flopping, an act of intentional fall or exaggeration in an attempt to draw a foul, in basketball games for some time now. And it looks like the league is finally ready to do something about it.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, NBA’s Competition Committee is currently considering a rule change that would address flopping. One of the proposed changes is introducing an in-game penalty that would punish flops with a technical free throw for the opposing team.
It is unclear when the rule change might be officially introduced, but Charania adds that the league is considering testing it during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this upcoming July.
Basketball games regulated by FIBA already have a similar policy in place. If a referee determines that a player flopped, they will award a technical foul.
The NBA already tried to crack down on flopping by introducing an anti-flopping policy ahead of the 2012-2013 season. The league reviews possible flop situations after the games and then warns a player if they determine he was in violation. The next time the same player is found flopping again, he can be fined up to $30K.
