NBA

Kevin Garnett’s wild idea to get players to stop flopping during NBA games

Published by
Mike Battaglino

Kevin Garnett has an outside-the-box idea in an effort to eliminate flopping by NBA players, and it would be absolutely crazy if it were ever implemented.

Speaking with Paul Pierce on “Ticket & The Truth,” Garnett revealed how he would deter the unsightly tactic that isn’t pleasing to players, coaches, officials, announcers or fans.

The former NBA champion said (at the 27:50 mark) a personal foul should be called on a player who flops, and he’d like NBA commissioner Adam Silver to consider a two-minute type of penalty box for a player caught flopping.

The Hall of Famer may actually be onto something, with reports that the NBA is considering awarding a free throw as a penalty for flopping, with the rule possibly to be tested this offseason.

This comes on the heels of an impassioned plea made by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Also during the playoffs, San Antonio Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan actually called out LeBron James for flopping against the Denver Nuggets during the Western Conference Finals.

And to prove that this has been a top-of-mind problem in the NBA for some time now, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George in December proposed that referees should be fined themselves for missed calls or allowing a player to flop and get away with it.

The NBA adopted an anti-flopping rule way back in 2012, with the punishment a fine if a flop is determined via video review following games. The amount of the infraction escalates for each subsequent violation by a player.

The personal foul, technical free throw and/or fines seem to be worthy of a reasonable discussion among the game’s rule makers, with the cage and penalty box ideas obviously too far-fetched to become reality. But you can’t fault Garnett for trying to make the game better.

Mike Battaglino

Mike is a veteran journalist who has focused on New York sports. He has covered the NBA and NFL for almost three decades and is still waiting for the next championship for the Knicks and Jets.

Published by
Mike Battaglino

Recent Posts

Jeff Teague: LeBron James is ‘giving hints’ about his future

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James remains one of the top players in the NBA…

4 hours ago

Julius Randle calls Anthony Edwards’ confidence in himself ‘Kobe-like’

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards oozes supreme confidence on the offensive side of the ball.…

2 days ago

Russell Westbrook’s wife accuses ESPN reporter of spreading ‘lies’ about him: ‘Dirty work’

On Tuesday, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne came out with a piece on Denver Nuggets guard Russell…

2 days ago

NBA source confirms that Jayson Tatum’s injury involves his Achilles tendon after Game 4 exit

The Boston Celtics blew another big lead in Game 4 of their second-round series against…

3 days ago

2-time Lakers champ jokes that Luka will only be 31 when Mavs trade Cooper Flagg to L.A.

There are a slew of people who think the Dallas Mavericks got fleeced when they…

3 days ago

Report: Mark Cuban was ‘so busy screaming’ that Patrick Dumont wasn’t certain Mavs landed No. 1 pick

The Dallas Mavericks headed into Monday night's draft lottery with a measly 1.8 percent chance…

3 days ago