The NBA announced that this coming season it will crack down on flopping by assessing players who engage in the practice with a technical foul.
Flopping has been a problem across the league for about 20 years, and fans have often complained about players who excessively exaggerate or fake contact in order to draw fouls on their opponents.
Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden had an interesting response to this new rule, per Legion Hoops.
James Harden was asked about the new flopping rule, per @mackenziesalmon.
His response: “Are you calling me a flopper?… Honestly, it doesn’t affect me.” pic.twitter.com/KTeWVljQ8D
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 19, 2023
Harden has bigger things to be concerned about right now other than being penalized as a result of the NBA’s new anti-flopping rule.
When this summer began, he reportedly came to an understanding with 76ers management that the team would look to trade him after he exercised the player option on the final year of his contract.
But after Philly failed to find a trade partner, Harden called executive Daryl Morey a “liar,” and there is speculation that he will not report to training camp.
While he may not be the player he used to be about five years ago, he’s still a potent performer, even if he isn’t reliable in close-out playoff games.
He averaged 21.0 points a game while shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range and led the league in assists last season while helping the Sixers finish with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.
It seems they need to make a move or two in order to get over the hump, as the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are considered by most to be better teams, while the Miami Heat continue to try to land Damian Lillard.
