Mark Cuban is funding flopping research

Mark Cuban is funding research to help define flopping rules in the NBA. (Photo by Ray Amati/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is providing $100,000 to Southern Methodist University for an 18-month study on the physics of flopping. The study will investigate the forces involved in collisions to physically define a "flop" in order to to expand anti-flopping rules in the NBA.

Currently, if a player is found to be flopping on a play, the player will be warned about the play. The league fines the player $5,000 for the second offense, $10,000 for a third offense, $15,000 for a forth offense and $20,000 for a fifth offense.

"The research findings could conceivably contribute to video reviews of flopping and the subsequent assignment of fines," SMU biomechanics lead-researcher Peter G. Weyand said.

NBA Commissioner David Stern said "there was always a challenge" of getting the flopping rules right and the current anti-flopping policy isn't sufficient in attempting to police flopping in the NBA.