NBA's 10 Biggest Floppers

If there is one thing about the NBA that fans and players alike could do without, it would have to be the art of flopping.

In recent years, flopping has become almost an epidemic as it has spread from team to team. Flopping has even got so bad recently, that the NBA decided this season that it would penalize players who were repeat offenders.

While the NBA has supplemented this new policy to try and crack down on floppers, both superstars and role players continue to flop. Here are the 10 biggest floppers in the NBA today. 

When Blake Griffin isn't throwing down nasty slams on offense, he usually is flopping.  

In his third year in the league, Griffin has become the next superstar out of Los Angeles and has already mastered the tricks of the trade of earning calls. The 6'10" power forward has become notorious for overdoing it just to earn a referee's whistle.  

While Griffin is indeed a great player and does take a lot of punishment when he goes to the rim, his flopping is beginning to tarnish his image. At 23 years old, Griffin still has time to correct his flopping ways.

Chris Paul has arguably been the best point guard in the league this season and often the most dramatic. 

Whether he is on offense or defense, Paul has proven to be able to take advantage of referees whenever his team needs a call. From drawing moving screens to pretending like a bus has hit him, Paul has an array of flops for any situation. 

While Paul can be labeled as a menace in terms of flopping against his opposition, he is still one of the top 10 players in the league.  

Whenever the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade take the floor, fans can expect to see two things, championship basketball and elite flopping.

In already his 10th season in the NBA, Wade has grown accustomed to receiving calls with sometimes little to no contact. Wade has been able to perfect the art of flopping by screaming at refs for calls and/or going up for shots and contorting his body to make contact with the defender.

Wade has made a name for himself as an elite flopper and was even recognized by the league in their official flopping video put out at the start of the season.      

J.J. Barea has always faced an uphill battle being undersized in the NBA but recently has been trying to use that to his advantage. 

The league has penalized the 6',175-pound guard twice this season, resulting in a $5,000 fine. In his two offenses this season, Barea was able to earn similar offensive fouls on his opponents by exaggerating their hand contact by falling.

Barea has always been known as a flopper, and it seems as if it finally catching up with him. Barea will have to tone it down, as future flopping fines will only be increased.    

LeBron James is without a question the best player in the NBA, but that doesn't make him untouchable. 

James has clearly been able to take advantage of the system on a regular basis knowing that he will always receive the benefit of the doubt. James is physically bigger and stronger than a lot of players in the league but still resorts to flopping in order to gain a greater advantage.

Like Paul, James can hit you with a wide variety of flops depending on the scenario. LeBron will go down as one of the league's greatest players ever, even if he continues to flop.   

If there were ever a veteran of flopping, Manu Ginobili would be that guy. 

Ginobili has been one of the NBA's most creative guys since entering the league and has used that advantage to earn calls. The 6'6" guard from Argentina has all but patented his signature whiplash flop, which is slowly becoming a league favorite.

While Ginobili was one of the players that most people would have predicted to earn a fine at the start of the season, he has been able to dodge this bullet. Ginobili could finish the season without an infraction, but I wouldn't put my money on it.

Pau Gasol has often been regarded as one of the softest players in the NBA. While that is debatable, him being a flopper isn't.

In most games this season, Gasol can regularly be seen asking for calls by the referees. Whether it is letting out a yell while he is trying to score in traffic or flailing his arms or even a combination of both, Gasol continues to be effective in his technique.

With Gasol out due to injury, don't expect him to be letting out any screams anytime soon or picking up any NBA flopping fines.  

Paul Pierce is not only one of the greatest Celtics to ever play the game; he is also one of the greatest floppers.

Pierce has made a living in the NBA burying threes, sinking shots from the elbow and flailing his arms around for fouls.  

While there is no denying his toughness on and off the court, Pierce often takes his theatrics way too far. Whether it be driving to the hoop and contorting his body to trick referees or bumping defenders to draw contact, Pierce has become a master of the art of flopping.  

If there were an award given for the league's most amusing flopper, Reggie Evans would win hands down. 

Evans became the first player fined this season under the NBA's new anti-flopping policy when he exaggerated contact with Metta World Peace. While Evans is known for his tenacious rebounding and physical play, Evans is beginning to earn a title as a flopper.

Evans has been a flopper for much of his career, and it wouldn't be surprising if he accumulates more fines this season.

The Miami Heat take the cake for most floppers on this list as Shane Battier also earns a spot. 

The 12th-year player out of Duke continues to make an impact for the Heat by not only defending and hitting open shots, but by also flopping.

Battier has been known as a frequent charge taker since his days as a Blue Devil and has taken this skill into the NBA with him.

Battier seems to always draw charges simply because he can sell it so well. He should be able to continue to flop on defense without worry of being fined.