NBA: ‘Floppers’ targetted by NBA

In this February 20, 2012, file photo, Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat, left, of Poland, falls backward to the floor as Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee, right, is called for a charge in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix. The NBA will penalize flopping this season, fining players for repeated violations of an act a league vice president says has “no place in our game.” The league said Wednesday, October 3, 2012, that flopping will be defined as “any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player.” AP/Paul Connors

NEW YORK — The National Basketball Association is cracking down on defenders who intentionally fall after making slight contact with an opponent to try and fool refs into calling penalties.

The NBA announced a new rule aimed at eliminating “flopping” on Wednesday.

“Flops have no place in our game – they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” NBA spokesman Stu Jackson said.

“Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should – after a warning – be given an automatic penalty.”

Now a player guilty of flopping will be subject to a warning, followed by a $5,000 fine for a second violation.

The fine will increase $5,000 for a third and fourth violation.