Few topics in professional basketball spark as much discussion and argument as the subject of flopping. Players have long engaged in an unethical practise where they theatrically exaggerate contact to try to sway officials' calls for fouls or penalties. Recognising the problem, the NBA introduced new regulations to prevent flopping, and their results were immediately clear. Notably, celebrities like Harden and Embiid got attention for their flopping antics. A rising 25-year-old player from the Dallas Wings named Satou Sabally is now calling for a similar adoption in the women's league while the NBA evaluates the success of these guidelines.
The NBA has been working hard to combat flopping for a very long time. Exaggerating contact to get an advantage in a game not only ruins the play but also raises concerns about sportsmanship and fair play. The activity irritates everyone involved—fans, athletes, and coaches. In response, the NBA implemented a new rule that targets flopping during games. This regulation specifies that the referees of the game may declare a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul if a player engages in physical action with the purpose to foul another player by flopping. The opposition team receives one free throw as a result of this technical foul, however it does not result in expulsion.