NEW YORK — The NBA announced a revised flopping standard Thursday requiring players to remain airborne for at least three seconds after minimal contact before officials may classify the reaction as suspicious.
“We needed an objective threshold,” said one league official. “The previous system relied too heavily on whether something looked ridiculous.”
Under the new guidance, referees will consider launch angle, backward travel, arm separation, facial expression, and the amount of time between contact and the player remembering to fall.
Players who rotate more than 180 degrees may receive additional review unless video shows a legitimate force capable of moving an adult professional athlete that distance.
The league tested the system using dozens of clips and discovered several reactions exceeded the flight time of certain commercial drones.
Coaches questioned whether players might simply learn to fall faster, prompting officials to admit the standard may create “innovation.”
The first violation is expected roughly 40 seconds into opening night.
