Flopping in basketball
Subject in Basketball
Flopping in basketball has come up in 6 episodes across 2 podcasts in TMT, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pardon My Take. 7 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
Katz cited a breakdown showing Gilgeous-Alexander fell on only about a quarter of his shots, arguing the narrative was exaggerated.
“He has fallen to the floor in 27% of his shots”
Pardon My Take: Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 22:45
Katz argued that fans' real problem with Gilgeous-Alexander is that his mid-range style is boring, not only his flopping.
“more than anything, he's boring because he's a lethal mid-range guy. He doesn't have flashy dunks”
Pardon My Take: Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 20:47
Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Simmons criticizes defenders being allowed to shove big men like Wembanyama and Jokić before they reach their spots.
“You should be able to run to your spot without somebody pushing back like they have a blocking sled”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 52:21
Max KellermanAmerican sports broadcaster and co-host of the Game Over podcast with Rich Paul
Kellerman proposes treating flops like yellow cards, with two technicals leading to a suspension, to improve the product.
“it's a tech, two of them, and you should be suspended a game. Or like a yellow card”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman (Jun 2, 2026) · Listen from 53:14
Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
Lowe doubts the flopping criticism affected Gilgeous-Alexander, suggesting Wembanyama was what bothered him.
“the thing that really bothered him was Victor Wembanyama. I actually don't I probably don't think the flopping thing bothered him”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe (May 31, 2026) · Listen from 1:14:15
Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
House says any visible sign that the league takes flopping seriously would be positive, suggesting refs simply call flops.
“Anything that communicates to the NBA viewing public, us, that the league is taking this seriously is going to be a good thing”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:20:14
David JacobyThe Ringer podcast host and TV producer, co-host of The Mismatch
Jacoby supports a post-game review system that assigns flopping penalty points.
“I love it. I absolutely love it. In the same way that they upgraded the Plumlee foul, smart people review the tape”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 1:18:40
PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
PFT Commenter proposed that the league review games afterward and issue technical fouls for egregious dives.
“they should be able to issue technical fouls for clearly diving if they missed it during the game”
Pardon My Take: Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 22:14
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- The Bill Simmons Podcast · 4 episodes
- Pardon My Take · 2 episodes
Episodes
The Knicks Land a Haymaker, With Doc Rivers. Plus, a Mini-Mailbag, the End of 'Euphoria,' and a Movies Resurgence With Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan.The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 4, 2026 · 2 h 5 min
Bill Simmons and Doc Rivers break down the Knicks' Game 1 NBA Finals win over the Spurs, then Simmons answers mailbag questions and discusses Euphoria's finale and TV versus movies with Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan.
- A Finals Pick, Greatest Knicks Ever, ‘Made’ N.Y.C. Stars, and Big NFL Trades With Max Kellerman
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 2, 2026 · 2 h 8 min
Bill Simmons and Max Kellerman discuss the Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown trades, preview the Knicks–Spurs NBA Finals, rank the greatest Knicks, and weigh OKC's future.
Spurs Win Game 7, Knicks and Finals With Mike Breen, SCF With Keith Yandle Plus Who’s Back Of The WeekPardon My Take · Jun 1, 2026 · 2 h 29 min
The Pardon My Take crew reacts to the Spurs' Game 7 win over the Thunder, then interviews Mike Breen on the NBA Finals and Keith Yandle on the Stanley Cup Final.
- Down Goes OKC! Spurs-Knicks is Here! What the Hell Just Happened? And What Does OKC Do Now? | With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 31, 2026 · 1 h 37 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react live to the Spurs beating the Thunder in Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals and preview Spurs-Knicks.
- Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 29, 2026 · 1 h 51 min
Bill Simmons and Rob Mahoney react to the Spurs forcing Game 7 against the Thunder, then Simmons, David Jacoby and Joe House discuss NBA lottery reform, Cavs losers and a mailbag.
Grit Week Finale, Coach O, Saints HC Kellen Moore, Knicks Up 2-0 And Fyre Fest of The WeekPardon My Take · May 22, 2026 · 2 h 49 min
Big Cat and PFT Commenter discuss the Knicks' 2-0 lead and Thunder–Spurs refereeing, recap Grit Week, and interview Ed Orgeron and Saints coach Kellen Moore.