Report: NBA Competition Committee to Vote on Flopping Penalty, Challenge Rule Changes
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJune 30, 2023
The NBA might make another effort this offseason to curb flopping in the game.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the NBA Board of Governors will vote on a rule that would penalize a flopping player's team by awarding the opponent with a technical free throw when it convenes on July 11.
Another potential rule change that will be considered for the 2023-24 season is awarding a coach with a second challenge if his first one is successful.
Awarding a second challenge to coaches who win their first one could significantly alter in-game strategy and somewhat mirror the NFL, where coaches have two challenges per game but are given a third if they are both successful.
Many coaches in the NBA are surely hesitant to use a challenge in the first half even if there is a glaring officiating mistake so they can save them for the more crucial moments near the final buzzer.
There are also times when officials make mistakes late in games but the coaches cannot do anything about it because they already used their one challenge.
Possibly having a second one will surely encourage coaches to be more aggressive in their decision-making process. They may even be more willing to listen to their players who call for challenges on whistles even in the opening minutes of a game.
As for the flopping, the NBA instituted an anti-flopping rule starting with the 2012-13 season with the following penalties:
- Violation 1: Warning
- Violation 2: $5,000 fine
- Violation 3: $10,000 fine
- Violation 4: $15,000 fine
- Violation 5: $30,000 fine
While players surely don't want to be fined, technical fouls would actually have a direct impact on winning. The chance of letting down one's team in crunch time with an ill-timed flop may dissuade players from attempting to fool the officials much more than a warning or fine.
Charania previously reported in May that the NBA could use July's Summer League as a trial run for the flopping penalty.
