Who Flops the Most in the NBA?

A look at which NBA players have the most flops per game.

Introduction

In the NBA, “flopping” refers to a player faking being fouled in order to draw a personal foul call on the opposing player. Flopping has become such an issue in the NBA that the league have actually implemented rules and fines in order to deter players from engaging in the practice. So, who flops the most in today’s NBA?

What is a Flop?

A flop is an intentional fall by a player in basketball, soccer, or other contact sport when there is no contact with an opposing player in an attempt to draw a personal foul call. The term is most often used in reference to players who are perceived to exaggerate the amount of contact made on them.

The Most Flops in the NBA

Flops have become an epidemic in the NBA, with players going to increasingly ridiculous lengths to sell fouls. As the league has cracked down on these flops with rule changes and fines, players have had to get creative in order to fool the officials.

The 10 players who have been called for the most flops this season are:
1. James Harden (HOU) – 18
2. DeAndre Jordan (LAC) – 17
3. J.J. Redick (LAC) – 16
4. Chandler Parsons (DAL) – 15
5. Garrett Temple (WAS) – 14
6. Kyle Korver (ATL) – 12
7. Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 11
8. Marcus Smart (BOS) – 11
9. Jeff Green (MEM) – 10
10. Monta Ellis (IND) – 10

Why Do Players Flop?

Flops have become such an issue in the NBA that the league has implemented a number of measures to try to curb the practice. In 2012, the NBA instituted a rule that any player who was determined to have committed a flop would be given a warning, and then fined $5,000 for each subsequent offense. The rules were tweaked last season so that any player who committed two flops in the regular season would be automatically suspended for one game. However, many argue that these punishments are not enough to deter players from flopping, as the potential rewards still outweigh the risks.

There are a number of reasons why players may choose to flop, but the most common motive is simply to gain an advantage over their opponents. In some cases, flopping may be used as a way to get opponents in foul trouble or even to earn free throws. In other cases, it may be used as a way to sell a call to the official when no foul has actually been committed. Regardless of the motive, flopping has become an increasingly prevalent problem in the NBA.

How to Flop

In basketball, a flop is an intentional fall by a player after a minor contact in an attempt to draw a personal foul call by the opposing team, most commonly when the player is shooting.Flopping is widely considered to be unsportsmanlike, and is generally frowned upon. since it doesn’t reflect the true competitive nature of the game.

There are a few key things to remember when attempting to flop:

1. Sell the contact: When you feel contact, make sure to exaggerate the force of it by flying backwards or falling to the floor. The more you can sell it, the better chance you have of getting the call.
2. Make sure there is actually contact: This seems like common sense, but if there’s no contact made, then it’s not a flop. You’ll just look foolish if you go down without any real reason.
3. Watch out for counter-flopping: If you’re not careful, your opponent may try to flop on YOU in order to get the foul called on you! Be aware of this possibility and try to avoid getting caught up in it.
4. Know when to flop: Not every situation calls for a flop. If you’re in a close game and trying to get back into it, then sure, go ahead and give it a try. But if you’re already up by 20 points late in the 4th quarter, there’s really no need to risk it.

Flopping has become such an issue in recent years that the NBA has instituted several rules changes aimed at discouraging its use, including fining players for repeated offenses and instituting a rule that would allow referees to review plays after the fact and issue retroactive penalties if they determine that a flop occurred.

Flopping in the NBA Finals

It’s no secret that flopping has become a growing problem in the NBA. While it’s always been a part of the game to some extent, the league has made a concerted effort to crack down on it in recent years. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped players from trying to gain an advantage by embellishing contact.

The playoffs are when things really heat up and players are more likely to flop in an attempt to get calls. That was on full display in last year’s NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended for one game after accumulation too many flagrant fouls, which included a few flops.

So who are the biggest floppers in the NBA? We took a look at the data to find out.

Conclusion

After analyzing the data, it is clear that the Houston Rockets are the NBA’s reigning champions when it comes to flops. On average, they flop once every 5.6 minutes of game time, which is significantly more often than any other team in the league. The Rockets’ propensity for flopping may be due to the fact that they are a relatively small team; their average height is just under 6’5″, which is shorter than all but two other teams in the NBA. Additionally, the Rockets take a lot of three-point shots, which can lead to players being knocked down as they attempt to release the ball.