NBA Adopts New Rules on Flopping, Replay Challenges

The league approved two new rule changes for the 2023-24 season aimed at improving watchability.

The NBA Board of Governors approved two new rule changes Tuesday that will be instituted for the 2023-24 season. The new rules will involve the issues of flopping and coach’s challenges.

The league now will award the opposing team a technical free throw when a player is ruled to have flopped in attempt to draw a call. However, the new flopping penalty doesn’t count toward the two technical fouls that lead to a player’s ejection. In other words, a player cannot be ejected from a game for flopping.

The new flopping rule was implemented in this year’s NBA Summer League, and apparently the league’s decision makers were pleased with the results. The new rule is being implemented on a one-year trial basis for the 2023-24 season.

Meantime, coaches will receive a second replay challenge if their first challenge is successful. However, a timeout will be charged on the second challenge, even if it’s successful.

The NBA Board of Governors today approved an in-game flopping penalty and expanded use of the Coach’s Challenge.

Both rule changes will be implemented beginning with the 2023-24 NBA season.

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— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 12, 2023