Stern Knows Flopping Penalties Not Strong Enough

Tony WrightPublished: June 7, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat falls into photographers and a videorapher during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 28, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

MIAMI (AP) - Commissioner David Stern says the NBA's flopping penalties aren't strong enough to stop the act, though he doesn't know if the league will strengthen them.

The league implemented a system this season to crack down on flopping, the act of exaggerating contact to fool referees into calling a foul. Players were fined $5,000 for a second offense during the regular season, and were hit with the $5,000 penalty for a first instance in the playoffs.

Stern says Thursday that's not enough in a league where the average salary is $5.5 million. He says suspensions "might be a little bit draconian at the moment," and that he doesn't know if the league will "have the stomach" to strengthen the penalties enough to really get the act stopped.

He adds that owners and the Competition Committee will have further discussions.

Filed Under: David Stern, NBA

Categories: Sports