The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved two rule changes for the upcoming season. The first change allows coaches to have a second challenge if their initial challenge is successful. However, teams must have a timeout available to use the second challenge, and the timeout will not be retained even if the coach wins the challenge. This rule change addresses a longstanding request from coaches for more opportunities to challenge calls.
The second rule change introduces a technical foul for flopping. Players who are deemed to have committed a physical act intended to deceive officials into calling a foul on another player will receive a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul. This technical foul will not count as a personal foul or lead to ejection but will result in the opposing team receiving a free throw and a possible change of possession. Floppers will also be fined $2,000, with increasing fines for repeat offenses. This flopping rule will be implemented as a one-year experiment.
Both rule changes received unanimous recommendation from the NBA’s Competition Committee, which includes players, representatives from the National Basketball Players Association, coaches, team executives, and referees.