NBA issues flop warnings to Kevin Love, Corey Brewer, Patty Mills, Zaza Pachulia
Kevin Love was one of four players warned Monday for flopping. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)
The NBA announced Monday that Timberwolves forwards Kevin Love and Corey Brewer, Spurs guard Patty Mills, and Bucks center Zaza Pachulia have all been issued warnings for flopping.
The four players join Wizards guard John Wall, who was the first player warned for flopping during the 2013-14 season.
Love's flop occurred with roughly two minutes remaining in the third quarter of Minnesota's 109-100 win over New York on Nov. 3. Standing at the top of the key, Love held the ball as Tim Hardaway Jr. attempted to reach in for a steal. Hardaway and Love came together with minimal contact, but Love launched himself to the floor with a spin and earned the foul call. Video of the play can be viewed here.
This type of flop was specifically called out in the NBA’s official video introducing its flopping policy. In the video, Spurs guard Tony Parker was fouled on a drive but unnecessarily sent himself flying to the ground.
“The highlighted offensive player will draw a legitimate defensive foul on the drive but he subsequently over-embellishes the contact by flailing his arms and spinning to the floor,” the video’s narrator explains. “This over-embellished action is inconsistent with the level of contact and the direction of the contact.”
Brewer's flop occurred with a little less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the same game. While defending Carmelo Anthony on the perimeter, Brewer went underneath a screen from Tyson Chandler. Brewer ran into Chandler, absorbing a bunch, before launching himself backwards to the court and flailing his arms. No foul was called. Video of the play can be viewed here.
Mills' flop occurred early in the fourth quarter of the Spurs' 91-85 win over the Lakers on Nov. 3. Sliding over from the weakside corner to provide help defense in the paint, Mills stepped up in an attempt to take a charge from a cutting Jordan Hill. Replays indicated that contact was minimal and that Mills launched himself backwards on the play. No foul was called. Video of the play can be viewed here.
Pachulia's flop occurred with a little more than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Milwaukee's 105-98 win over Boston on Nov. 1. Pachulia was picking up Jared Sullinger on defense just inside the three-point line. Sullinger extended his arms to bump Pachulia, who immediately gave way and went crashing backwards to the court. Sullinger was called for a foul. Video of the play can be viewed here.
Brewer, Mills and Pachulia were all guilty of a flop that was specifically noted in the NBA’s official flopping handbook. In the video, Clippers guard Chris Paul was called out for trying to sell a charge in a similar manner.
“As the highlighted defensive player, No. 3 in the red uniform, defends the driving offensive player, he feels slight contact and then launches himself back to the floor,” the video’s narrator explained. “This reaction by the defensive player is an over-embellishment of marginal contact and is intended to draw an unearned offensive foul on his opponent.”
Instituted before the 2012-13 season, the NBA's anti-flopping system provides one free warning to players before they are subjected to a scaling set of monetary fines.
- Violation 1: Warning
- Violation 2: $5,000 fine
- Violation 3: $10,000 fine
- Violation 4: $15,000 fine
- Violation 5: $30,000 fine
- Violation 6: Subject to discipline reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension
The NBA assigned 24 flopping violations to 19 different players on 13 different teams during the 2012-13 regular season. Five players received two infractions each, earning fines totaling $25,000, with zero players getting dinged three or more times.
During the 2013 playoffs, the NBA removed the free warning and began assessing fines. Although commissioner David Stern said that the league's current policy "isn't enough" to curb the practice, the league did not adopt any changes to the policy during the offseason.
