Every basketball fan dreams of wielding the decision-making power that NBA’s Commissioner Adam Silver has. However, his job could arguably be one of the hardest in the sports industry. He consistently has to navigate a delicate balance between ensuring fan enjoyment and prioritizing player welfare. While Adam Silver has some mis-hits during his reign as the NBA supremo, his shrewd decision making has greatly increased the profile of the NBA.

However, Silver and the NBA’s governing body have come under intense scrutiny because of the subpar officiating standards in recent seasons. In the 2023-24 season alone, several dubious officiating calls have earned the ire of fans and players alike. The crackdown on dissent has specifically been the root cause of frustration among players. In a recent interview, Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum advocated for a radical rule change that would hold referees accountable.

When asked during the All-Star Game media duties about a rule change he would implement as NBA Commissioner, Jayson Tatum responded by stating, “If you get a tech for overreacting to a call that was deemed incorrect, you should get your money back”.  While Tatum complaining about fines may seem petty, several NBA players have been on the receiving end of some egregious techs. The first thing that comes to mind is that the players have been given techs for just hanging on the basket after a dunk. Such decisions have irked fans and players. However, that’s to be expected, as the NBA has decided to crackdown on dissent and over-the-top actions, which include excessive showboating and flopping.

NBA’s crackdown on dissent and flopping

In a press conference in September 2023, NBA senior vice president of referee training and development, Monty McCutchen explained the new rules regarding flopping and dissent that came into effect during the 2023-24 season. He said, “We do want to get rid of the egregious, overt over-the-top examples in which NBA players look bad. It has the chance to make (an) NBA referee look bad, and it’s just bad for the game.”

Armed with STEM, refs have issued several technical fouls on players who have resorted to flopping in games. However, the technical foul will be categorized as an unsportsmanlike tech, preventing players from being ejected from games due to flopping. But they would receive a hefty fine. In October 2023, Suns’ Josh Okogie became the first player to be fined for flopping, as he had to cough up around $2,000 following a league review. What are your thoughts on the NBA’s crackdown on dissent and flopping? Let us know in the comments below!

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