LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma both received warnings for violating the NBA’s anti-flopping rule in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-105 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, the league announced.
The NBA said on Saturday that James’ offense occurred with 2 minutes, 33 seconds left in the second quarter when James, positioned between Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen of the Grizzlies, fell to the ground while battling for a rebound.
Kuzma flopped 6:31 over in the fourth quarter, according to the league. While guarding Brooks, Kuzma attempted to make an offensive foul on the Memphis wing by turning and tumbling towards the hardwood after Brooks laid down his shoulder and made contact with Kuzma’s hip.
The NBA tried to clean up the game by tracking the flopping from the 2012-13 season. After receiving a warning, a player can face fines ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 to $ 15,000 to $ 30,000 for each subsequent offense. If a player hits six flops in a season, the fine can increase even further and the league has the right to issue a suspension.
Nearly a decade after the rule change was introduced, the anti-flopping rule is rarely applied. James and Kuzma are just the sixth and seventh players to be scolded by the league this season with warnings, alongside LaMelo Ball, DJ Augustin, Gary Trent Jr., Kristaps Porzingis and Mason Jones.
The last player to be fined by the NBA for flopping was Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics during the 2020 playoffs.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.