LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma have both received warnings for violating the NBA’s anti-flipping rule in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, the league announced.
The NBA said James’ offense happened with 2 minutes, and 33 seconds left in the second quarter when James, between Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen of the Grizzlies, fell to the floor while fighting for a rebound.
According to the league, Kuzma was left with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter. While guarding Brooks, Kuzma attempted to commit an offensive offense on the Memphis wing by turning to the hardwood and tumbling after Brooks put his shoulder down and began contact with Kuzma’s hip.
The NBA tried to clean up the game by monitoring the flopping, which begins in the 2012-13 season. After receiving a warning, a player may be subject to fines ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 to $ 15,000 to $ 30,000 for each subsequent offense. If a player reaches six flops in a season, the penalty can increase even further and the league has the right to issue 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 reprimanded by the league this season with warnings, joining LaMelo Ball, DJ Augustin, Gary Trent Jr., Kristaps Porzingis and Mason Jones.
The last player to be fined by the NBA for delaying was Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics during the playoffs in 2020.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.