NBA penalizes the 'flop'

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NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The NBA has adopted a rule to keep players from "flopping" in an attempt to draw an undeserved foul call, the league said Wednesday.

There have been several instances in recent seasons in which a player fell to the floor when it was obvious there was little or no contact from an opposing player.

An NBA release stated: "'Flopping' will be defined as any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player. The primary factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact."

A player found guilty of flopping will be warned on the first offense, fined $5,000 for a second and $5,000 more for third and fourth violations. A fifth violation would result in a $30,000 fine. A suspension and additional fines are possible for a sixth violation.

"Flops have no place in our game -- they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call," said NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson.

"Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should -- after a warning -- be given an automatic penalty."