Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope has instilled a philosophy in his Wildcats: don’t focus on the refs; focus on the game.
Actual quote from Mark Pope regarding his approach to dealing with refs (11/4):
— WT - Lamont Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) November 26, 2024
"I want our players to feel the same way that I do: referees actually have no power over whether we win or lose the game. The calls are really hard. But, if I can be disciplined and keep my focus on… https://t.co/Qulj3pA20u
Yet for fans of the game, there’s one issue they can’t ignore any longer—flopping. As basketball purists and Big Blue Nation alike lament, it’s high time the NCAA takes a hard stance on this unsportsmanlike behavior by penalizing it harshly.
A game was decided by calling this clear flop an offensive foul pic.twitter.com/xi28lkmPLQ
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) February 22, 2021
Where did flopping come from?
After Darvin Ham said “we don’t teach flopping” Lebron and Jokic literally had a “flop off” mid game that resulted in a tie.
— Ten000Hours (@DevInTheLab) May 19, 2023
Basketball is cooked pic.twitter.com/YxfImMarJK
We all have seen it and can spot it a mile away, but flopping is when a player exaggerates contact in an attempt to get a foul call. A light nudge becomes a dramatic tumble, and a perfectly legal screen transforms into a theatrical collapse. It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment where flopping began, but it really gained popularity in soccer, and then the NBA.
This is exactly why Neymar is probably my least favourite player in the world. This isn’t even a foul and he acts like Cavani two footed him.pic.twitter.com/fsZDo8KSN2
— Michael (@MikeMongie) November 17, 2018
Players like Dwayne Wade and Lebron James perfected the flop to get a foul call, and soon after nearly every player was throwing their head backwards on every drive to the hoop.
D-Wade called out LeBron for flopping 😂😂😂
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 9, 2019
"He's in Hollywood acting now, he's getting ready for his next role" https://t.co/K6EXJmZZ0s
While flopping is often seen as an individual tactic, its ripple effect can poison the integrity of the game as soon everyone is flopping all the time. It slows play, frustrates fans, and undermines genuine hustle. Worse, when players start flopping frequently, referees are left second-guessing legitimate fouls, often to the detriment of aggressive and talented teams.
Flopping and the Wildcats
The top flops from the nba bubble, as seen on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/izNm8ALojv
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) October 22, 2020
Mark Pope’s Wildcats are not known for tough, physical play like Clemson (who only committed 15 total fouls, sure). The Cats don’t flop; they grind. Whether it’s Koby Brea hitting clutch shots or the team swarming on defense, Kentucky thrives on its authenticity. But when opponents resort to flopping, it disrupts the flow of the game and tarnishes the competitive spirit.
After a review, this was called a flagrant foul on Essegian (0) 🧐 pic.twitter.com/4vtetTDLoM
— Chris Pankonin (@chrispank) December 7, 2024
Imagine a critical SEC matchup. A Kentucky player sets a clean screen, only for the opponent to crumple to the floor, baiting a foul call, like that hasn't happened. The momentum completely shifts not because of skill or effort but because of deception and flopping.
Time for Change
Oregon's Dillon Brooks may have set the record for the best worst flop ever
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) January 27, 2017
(Video via @robdauster)pic.twitter.com/c1k6hk6wmZ
The NCAA has already introduced a Class B technical foul for blatant flops, but it’s not enough. The league should empower referees to assess fouls on the flopper, punishing deception rather than rewarding it. Just imagine, the next time a player flops they get the foul called on them, and the other team gets 1 free throw. This would deter players from flopping and eliminate it from the game.