LOS ANGELES – The NBA announced Wednesday it will fine players for repeated acts of flopping, and at least one player says it’s no more than the league’s brass trying to get paid.

"It's not going to win or lose games for anybody. It's a good way for the NBA to get more money," Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin said.





As per the new rule, the first flopping offense merits a warning followed by a $5,000 fine for the second offense, $10,000 for the third, $15,000 for the fourth, $30,000 for the fifth and a suspension with six or more.

NBA vice-president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement that "flops have no place in our game" and offenders will be determined upon video review. Griffin's reputation as a flopper once caused Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins to describe him as "an actor."

"I guess it's good in a sense that it stops any of it from happening," Griffin said after the Clippers' open practice and scrimmage at the Galen Center on Wednesday. "But now you're telling me if it's Game 7 of the NBA Finals and a guy has a chance to make a play he's going to be like, 'Well, do I want this $10,000 or do I want a championship?' "

[Adrian Wojnarowski: Players left defenseless against flopping fines

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said the possibility of the rule was discussed during the recent NBA coach's meetings in Chicago. He said he planned on talking in more detail about the rule to his players soon.

"It's going to be interesting how they view that from a league perspective," Del Negro said. "But it's a rule and we have to abide by it. If that's what the commissioner wants to do and the competition committee, we'll abide by it."

The National Basketball Players Association also announced plans to file a grievance and an unfair labor practice charge challenging the new rule. NBA players union executive director Billy Hunter said in a statement that the rule has to be first bargained by the union and that a "monetary penalty for an act of this type is inappropriate."

Clippers guard Chris Paul, a board member of the players' union, declined comment through a team spokesperson. Clippers forward Caron Butler, who has been heavily involved with the players' union in the past, believes the new flopping rule is a good addition.