NBA warns Chris Paul for flopping

By Ben Golliver The NBA officially warned Clippers guard Chris Paul for violating its anti-flopping policy on Thursday. Paul's flop occurred with a little more

By Ben Golliver

The NBA officially warned Clippers guard Chris Paul for violating its anti-flopping policy on Thursday.

Paul's flop occurred with a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter of a 116-101 loss to the Kings in Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena on Tuesday night. Clippers forward Matt Barnes missed a jumper and as the two teams transitioned to the other end of the court, Paul ran in front of Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, flying backward and flailing both of his arms as if Cousins had shoved him. Cousins did not even raise his arms to push Paul, and no foul was called on the play. This one was so obvious that the internet beat the league office to the punch in calling out Paul.

This type of flop was specifically called out in the NBA’s official video introducing its flopping policy. In the video, then Celtics big man Ryan Hollins flew to the ground during an inbounding situation, pretending to have been shoved by Evan Turner as he worked to receive the pass from out of bounds.

"The highlighted defensive player on this play, No. 50 in the white uniform, gets entangled with the offensive player who is moving to receive the inbounds pass," the video's narrator explains. "The defender then throws himself backward to the floor, simulating that he was pushed down on the play. This was an unreasonable embellishment by the defensive player designed to draw an unearned offensive foul on his opponent."

Paul becomes the 14th player to be warned this season, joining Nuggets forward Corey Brewer, Spurs guard Tony Parker, Sixers guard Royal Ivey, Bucks center Gustavo Ayon, Rockets center Omer Asik, Hawks center Zaza Pachulia, Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, Nets forward Gerald Wallace, Kings forward Patrick Patterson, Nets forward Reggie Evans, Thunder guard Kevin Martin, Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea and Cavaliers guard Donald Sloan.

Paul will now be subject to fines if he violates the policy again. The sliding fine scale looks like this.

Violation 2: $5,000 fine

Violation 3: $10,000 fine

Violation 4: $15,000 fine

Violation 5: $30,000 fine

For a sixth (or any subsequent) violation of the rule, the player will be subject to such discipline as the League determines is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension.

Paul, 27, is averaging 16.6 points, 9.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game for the Clippers. He is on the books for $17.8 million this season.

Video via YouTube user kiantech