NBA coaches will now have the ability to challenge a second officiating call in games if they their first challenge of the game is successful.
The other wrinkle targets players who attempt to draw offensive foul calls by ‘flopping’, which is described as falling to the floor or pretending that they have been hit by someone on the team that has possession of the ball.
The rules have been tested during Summer League games and the NBA was pleased with the results.
They were approved unanimously by the NBA Competition Committee, composed of players, coaches, referees, players’ union representatives, team executives and governors.
The NBA has approved two rules changes that will go into effect for the 2023-24 season
Coaches will now be awarded a second chance to review a call if their first challenge is correct
Players will now also be assessed a technical foul if they are deemed guilty of flopping
Coaches will retain their timeout if their first challenge is successful, and they must still have a timeout remaining if they want to try for a second reversal.
However, the teams don’t retain their timeout even if they are successful in winning a second reversal.
The anti-flopping measure, which is coming in on a one-year trial basis, calls for the guilty player to be assessed a technical foul, although officials won’t have to stop play right away.
At the next stoppage of play, the other team will be awarded a free throw, and the team set to have possession when the game was stopped keeps the ball as play resumes.
Players called for flopping will face fines starting at $2,000 and are subject to increases for repeated offenses.
It was also noted that technical fouls assessed for flopping won’t count toward penalties that currently build toward punitive measures, such as suspensions.
