by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
The NBA Players’ Association and the League are going to war again.
Billy Hunter charges that the newly-instituted flopping penalties were put in place without the full consultation of the players, and his organization plans to file a grievance against the NBA.
Per the Sun-Sentinel and CBS Sports:
Players’ union has issued a statement challenging the validity of the NBA’s new flopping policy: “The NBA is not allowed to unilaterally impose new economic discipline against the players without first bargaining with the union. We believe that any monetary penalty for an act of this type is inappropriate and without precedent in our sport or any other sport. We will bring appropriate legal action to challenge what is clearly a vague and arbitrary overreaction and overreach by the Commissioner’s office.”
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, “Although we haven’t seen any filing from the Players Association, our adoption of an anti-flopping rule is fully consistent with our rights and obligations under the collective bargaining agreement and the law.”
Players, for the most part, seem to be in favor of the rules against flopping. The problem for their union, comes down to the issue of additional money they risk to lose thanks to these new penalties.
Which is simply terrific. Another battle between players, owners and the commissioner is just what the NBA needed on the eve of a new season.
