In addition to teams continuing to add the top NBA free agents to their roster, along with trade rumors swirling, fans also are enjoying summer league play, featuring the top Rookie of the Year candidates.
On Monday, the basketball community took in Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets make his debut. Top pick Victor Wembanyama is expected to play his first summer league game on July 7.
Rookies already have a big task ahead, trying to make the adjustment to the pros, but now there’s another wrench tossed into the mix. Only, in this case, they’re getting a head start over their experienced NBA peers.
The NBA recently introduced a new rule, incorporating a flopping penalty. Only, instead of waiting to roll out the changes during exhibition play, the league is already using it for summer league play too.
If an official feels a player flopped, the opposing team will be awarded one free throw shot and possession of the ball. Any player who is assessed with an in-game flopping penalty will be given a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul.
Perhaps what’s most interesting is that play won’t have to stop when a player is called for a flopping foul. Referees can just wait until the next dead-ball opportunity to call out the infraction.
Even for long-time members of the NBA, this new rule will be an adjustment. For some, that change will be larger than others. For rookies, it’s simply another new element to the game they’re constantly adapting to, but this way they’ll have an earlier understanding of the new standard of play.