The Most Valuable Floppers in the NBA

It seems that the NBA playoffs bring out the floppers in even the best players.

LeBron James, Tony Allen and Derek Fisher are a sample of these athletes turned thespians. NBA commissioner David Stern is not happy with these flops and has laid the smack down on a few players.

Jeff Pendergraph and J.R. Smith, along with Allen and Fisher, were all fined $5,000 from the league for flopping during games.   

Although LeBron James has not been fined for flopping, he has had his fair share of instances in which he lost his balance after seemingly incidental contact with an opposing player. He doesn’t deny that flopping is prevalent in the league—he insists it's just not part of his game:

James spoke with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on this topic:

"

Some guys have been doing it for years, just trying to get an advantage. Any way you can get an advantage over the opponent to help your team win, so be it.

 

"

So as we get further into the playoffs, I am wondering whether there will be any other players needing to display their acting chops on the court. 

Here are the top 10 best floppers in the NBA from the past two years.

Honorable Mention

The honorable mention goes to the Philadelphia 76ers Royal Ivey.

During a game against the Memphis Grizzlies this season, Ivey was guarding Jerryd Bayless. Darrell Arthur looks to set a screen for Bayless and once Ivey runs into Arthur, he throws his hands up in the air.

Ivey’s flop worked as Arthur was called for an offensive foul.

10. LeBron James

This is a bit of déjà vu. LeBron James was bringing the ball up the court in last year’s playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. Two Pacers come up to trap James. He loses control of the ball and immediately hits the deck to see if he can get a call go his way.

9. Derek Fisher and Kevin Martin

Two for the price of one. Oklahoma City Thunder’s dynamic duo of Derek Fisher and Kevin Martin flopped together against Omer Asik of the Houston Rockets. Asik was driving the lane while Fisher and Martin looked to take the charge.

Fisher was the only one to get fined. Still you have to hand it to both of the guys for being in sync with the flop. These guys are ready to take their show on the road.

8. Jeff Pendergraph

It seems that Jeff Pendergraph of the Indiana Pacers needs to work a bit on his flopping. He is getting backed downed by Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith and, starting to realize that he has lost this matchup, decides to call it quits and fall down.

The problem is that there is some space between him and Smith, which is an easy flop to spot. That act cost him $5,000.

7. Omer Asik

Timing is everything and Omer Asik needs to work on his if he wants to get away with a flop. While he and the rest of the Rockets were taking on the Pistons, Asik fell way too early while he was trying to defend the paint.

Keywords are "early" and "trying."

6. Danilo Gallinari

During a game this year between the New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets, Danilo Gallinari launched himself backwards while Robin Lopez was shooting a short flip shot. Gallinari even yelled out some sort of grunt as he fell backwards.

Somehow, he got off with just a warning from the league.

5. Gerald Wallace

The Nets moved to Brooklyn which is closer to Broadway than Newark, New Jersey.

Wallace is multitasking during a game in Brooklyn as the Nets took on the Knicks. Not only is he playing basketball, but he is showing off his acting chops, and Wallace couldn’t be happier to try out his acting skills in hopes of landing a small role.

As Carmelo Anthony brings the ball up the court, Wallace tries to get a good angle to defend the Knicks forward. Since Wallace knows he is beat, he tries to draw a foul with a flop.

4. Kevin Martin

Earlier this year it seems that there was an invisible force that pushed Oklahoma City’s Kevin Martin after he took a shot against the Denver Nuggets.

This flop cost Martin $5,000, and what is even worse for him is that this video has found a permanent home on the Internet.

3. Tony Allen

The Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies, and I think the basketball gods are happy especially after Tony Allen’s flop in Game 2.

Even Jeff Van Gundy realized that Allen is putting on a show to get the refs to think Manu Ginobili committed a flagrant foul. At that point the referees declared it was a flagrant foul and the Grizzlies were able to tie the game.

It wasn’t enough, though, as the Spurs won in overtime.

2. Chris Paul

This is one play that Clippers guard Chris Paul would love to have back.

As the Kings get the ball, the teams start down the other side of the court. As Paul jogs back he runs into DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings. Cousins is just walking back and Paul runs into him and flops in agony.

The best part is Cousins’ reaction to what just transpired. His facial expression is even better than Paul’s alleged pain.

1. Chris Bosh

The best of flop of all-time.

Chris Bosh does a “phenomenal” job guarding Carlos Boozer. As the Bulls power forward sets to the basket, Bosh falls back like he was getting hit by Ivan Drago. It works since the refs call Boozer for an offensive foul. As Reggie Miller says in this clip, "You got to sell it sometimes."

I wonder if the referees will start using instant replay to see if the player flopped.