Houston Rockets guard James Harden fined $5,000 for flopping (Video)
By Brad Rowland
Less than a week ago, we brought you word that Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden had garnered a “warning” from the NBA for flopping, but on Monday, that warning escalated to something tangible.
Rockets guard James Harden has been fined $5,000 by the NBA for violating the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time this season
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) November 11, 2013
Well, that was definitely quick.
Harden’s escalation to a full-on fine is representative of his second violation, but according to multiple sources, this one occurred during Houston’s 107-94 loss to the Clippers on Saturday. Here’s a look at Harden’s (blatant) flop in action:
To be honest, it’s not a surprise to see Harden using alternate methods in search of some sort of defensive resistance, as he is now well-known for his limitations on that end of the court. Still, this was a pretty blatant display, and it’s a bit surprising for someone who had been publicly warned less than a week prior to this game.
The NBA is certainly displaying a willingness to fine anyone and everyone by taking Harden (who is one of the game’s best players) to task, and the league’s anti-flopping stance is firmly in tact.