NBA approves rule changes on coach’s challenges, flopping

LAS VEGAS — The NBA Board of Governors at its annual meeting during NBA 2K24 Summer approved two rule changes that will go into effect next season — a second coach challenge if the first is successful and an in-game flop penalty in the league on Tuesday.

Both rule changes were unanimously recommended to the Board of Governors by the league’s Competitions Committee — a group made up of players, union officials, coaches, governors, executives and umpires — for implementation next season.

Giving coaches access to a second challenge is something teams — and coaches in particular — have been pushing for for years. Now, if a team gets a challenge right at the start of a game, they have a chance for a second challenge later in the competition.

But while teams still retain the first time-out they must use to call the first challenge, they don’t get their time-out back for the second challenge — even if it’s successful.

Meanwhile, a new rule will be introduced to curb flops in games. Now, when an umpire calls a flop, the offending player’s team is assessed a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and the opposing team is awarded a free throw. Referees also do not have to stop play to call a flop as they can wait until the next stop in live play to make the decision if necessary.

However, possession will not change and flop violations cannot be directly reviewed by a coach’s challenge. However, they can be added to a call while reviewing another piece.

The structure already in place in the league for post-flop post-game violations remains in place, with the financial penalty changed to match that for technical fouls. Fines start at $2,000 and increase for each repeat offence.

However, flops called during the game only result in a free throw for the other team.

The flop rule change will be applied on a trial basis for a year.