Spurs' Parker receives warning for violating NBA’s anti-flopping policy
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ByBen Golliver
The NBA officially warned Spurs guard Tony Parker for violating its anti-flopping policy on Sunday.
Parker's flop occurred with a little more than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a 122-116 win home win over the Rockets at the AT&T Center on Friday. Parker had inside position on Toney Douglas as the two attempted to rebound a missed jump shot by Jeremy Lin. Douglas softly touched Parker in the back and Parker responded by flinging himself forward, simulating a much larger degree of contact. Parker's flop did not result in a foul on Douglas and the ball wound up going out of bounds without being touched, giving possession to San Antonio. Video of the flop can be seen here on NBA.com.
This flop was similar to one performed by Hawks forward Josh Smith in the league’s official video introducing its flopping policy. During that play, Smith, attempting to grab a defensive rebound, fell quickly to the ground while fighting for a rebound with Celtics forward Paul Pierce after getting pushed in the back.
“As the highlighted defensive player prepares for a potential rebound, he feels slight contact from his opponent in his back,” the narrator explains. “He then falls forward and collapses to the floor in an obvious over-embellishment. The actions of the player in the white uniform are inconsistent with the level of contact on the play and is designed to draw an unearned loose ball foul on his opponent. Again, this flop will be penalized.”
Parker was also one of the stars specifically called out in the league's flopping video.
Parker became the twelfth player warned under the new system, joining Sixers guard Royal Ivey, Magic center Gustavo Ayon, Rockets center Omer Asik, Hawks center Zaza Pachulia, Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, Nets forward Gerald Wallace, Rockets forward Patrick Patterson, Nets forward Reggie Evans, Thunder guard Kevin Martin, Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea and Cavaliers guard Donald Sloan. Wallace and Evans have each been fined $5,000 as repeat violators.
Parker will now be subject to fines if they are deemed to have violated the policy again. The sliding fine scale looks like this.
Violation 2: $5,000 fine
Violation 3: $10,000 fine
Violation 4: $15,000 fine
Violation 5: $30,000 fine
For a sixth (or any subsequent) violation of the rule, the player will be subject to such discipline as the League determines is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension.
Parker, 30, is averaging 19.2 points and 7.3 assists per game for the Spurs. He is on the books for $12.5 million this season.
