In a move to combat foul simulation, commonly known as flopping, the NBA has announced its implementation of an in-game penalty during the upcoming summer league.
Players who engage in flopping, which involves feigning contact to deceive officials into calling a foul, will now face consequences in the form of a free throw awarded to the opposing team along with possession of the ball.
While this penalty will specifically apply to the summer league, potential rule changes for the upcoming season will undergo a vote by the NBA’s board of governors later this month.
A notable feature of the new penalty is that game officials will be able to enforce it without disrupting the flow of the game. The penalty will be imposed during the next suitable break in play.
This initiative follows a previous attempt by the NBA in 2012 to curb flopping, which involved issuing warnings and imposing fines. However, the effectiveness of that approach was limited, resulting in infrequent utilization of the rule.
Importantly, the penalty for flopping will not contribute to a player’s personal foul count, ensuring it remains separate from other infractions within the game.
