The first warnings for flopping have been issued by the NBA and the offenders nabbed are J.J. Barea of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Donald Sloan of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both were issued warnings from the league office under the anti-flopping policy that was brought in this season.
The two incidents occurred in separate games.
The first offense merits a warning, while the second will see the offender incur a fine of $5,000, followed by $10,000 fine for a third, $15,000 for a fourth and $30,000 for a fifth. Additional flops after that could lead to a suspension.
Wolves head coach Rick Adelman said he wasn’t sure that Barea deserved the warning.
“The play that they’re talking about, the guy hit him in the face and he got called for a foul. I don’t understand how he could get a warning foul. It sounds like maybe they’re trying to use his reputation, but I just think it seems like our officials are supposed to be the best in the world, and they’re very good officials, and they should be able to tell if somebody gets hit or he’s faking it.”
