Flipping has long been a topic of discussion in NBA circles, with various anti-practice rules introduced and modified over the past quarter-century.
This summer, the league is amending its flop rules again to include the harshest in-game penalty yet for the violation.
In the NBA Summer League, a rule will be tested where a failed call will result in the opposing team receiving one free throw and the ball. A player guilty of an unsportsmanlike technical foul will be assessed.
The league officially announced the changes in a Tuesday afternoon edition, three days before the official start of summer league play in Las Vegas.
The proposed in-game flop penalty will be in effect on a temporary basis for all of the 2023 NBA Summer Leagues. pic.twitter.com/eqdJ5gHr7d
– NBA Communications (NBAPR) July 4, 2023
In addition to the penalties, the referee will not necessarily have to stop play to call the flop violation. According to the statement, “they can wait until the next neutral opportunity” to stop work.
The NBA has had rules against flops since 1997, and fines for flop violations were introduced in 2013. The Las Vegas Summer League will kick off on Friday afternoon, with swans take on Timberwolves.