Houston Rockets: James Harden Fined for Flopping

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

While watching the Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Clippers game this weekend, I knew the “flopping fine” was coming for James Harden when Blake Griffin was issued a foul for shoving Harden out of bounds. , as noted by the tweet sent out right after the play.

Harden is gonna get another NBA memo for that flop!

— Space City Scoop (@SpaceCity_Scoop) November 10, 2013

The NBA announced Monday that Harden had run afoul of the league’s anti-flopping guidelines for the second time this season in Houston’s 107-94 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The simulation in question came with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, with the Rockets trailing by nine and Harden looking to get to the foul line after rebounding his own missed layup and finding himself trapped by Clippers power forward Blake Griffin along the baseline:

Harden received the season’s first $5,000 fine because this was the second time he’s been found guilty of excessive dramatics. The first violation came during Houston’s Nov. 5 win over the Portland Trail Blazers:

A quick reminder on the NBA’s flop penalty schedule:

Violation 1: Warning

Violation 2: $5,000 fine

Violation 3: $10,000 fine

Violation 4: $15,000 fine

Violation 5: $30,000 fine

Violation 6: Subject to discipline reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension