Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Gets Honest on Flopping in NBA

Flopping is one of the most talked-about issues in the NBA, and Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton weighed in on it during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

"It's for sure being taught," Haliburton said. "I don't think head coaches are, but it's a part of player development before you get to the NBA. It's something you naturally work on. It's now a part of the game."

Flopping has grown more prevalent in recent years despite the league implementing an in-game flopping penalty, where players who exaggerate contact are assessed a technical foul.

However, that rule hasn't changed much, as flopping to draw a foul call is still very common in games. Coaches teaching the practice makes sense, as if the referees are calling it, it makes sense to teach players how to draw more foul calls.

Flopping has become more of a discussion with the Oklahoma City Thunder on another deep playoff run. Two-time MVP Shai Gilegous-Alexander gets to the free-throw line constantly and is often on the floor.

Through the first four games of the Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander had fallen 46 times in the playoffs, with a foul called 23 times (50 percent) of the time.

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 free throws, making 16 of them. 

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was also high on the list, as he fell 32 times with a foul called 13 times (40.6 percent) of the time. 

Haliburton doesn't get to the free-throw line often, but he is bold to acknowledge that flopping is going on and possibly being coached in the NBA.

In the 2024-25 season, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points per game along with 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.4 steals, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three.

He had three free throw attempts per game while shooting 85.1 percent from the charity stripe.

It will be interesting to see if the league makes more changes this offseason to combat the ongoing problem.

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