Flopping a blight on NBL, says Tigers chief - Sydney Morning Herald

Tigers import Seth Scott tangles with Kings centre Ian Crosswhite at Hisense Arena during their spiteful NBL clash on Sunday. Photo: Mick Connolly

Melbourne Tigers chief executive Michael Slepoy has called on the NBL to crack down on flopping, saying it is a bigger blight on the game than the fight which led to five fines on Thursday.

Four players copped $500 fines for their involvement in the on-court scuffle which marred the Sydney Kings' 72-67 win over Melbourne Tigers at Hisense Arena on Sunday.

Tigers' courtside announcer Wayne Peterson was also hit with a suspended $500 fine for shouting at Kings coach Shane Heal during the same match.

Peterson is a repeat offender, having been suspended for two games and fined $500 by the league in 2009 for verbally abusing referees, and Slepoy confirmed he would sit down with the announcer and ask him to curb his emotions.

Heal, famous for his aggressive nature as a player, was warned but not fined by the league for clearing the bench during the fight.

But Slepoy insists the actions of his players, including import Seth Scott who escaped suspension despite admitting to striking the Kings' Ben Madgen in the head, is less damaging to the game than flopping - intentionally falling despite little or no physical contact.

"That's what is detrimental to the game," Slepoy said on Thursday.

"That's what gives it the reputation of a game of cheats rather than a game of passionate athletes."

Scott was given a suspended $500 fine and a one-game penalty that will only come into effect if he is found guilty of any additional charges before March 24.

Madgen also copped a fine, while Sydney's Ian Crosswhite and Melbourne's Lucas Walker earned $500 fines for unnecessarily joining in.

Sydney guard Aaron Bruce was formally warned for flopping for his exaggerated fall which led to an unsportsmanlike foul being given to Melbourne's Chris Goulding.

All the actions were condemned by Basketball Australia's general manager Chuck Harmison, who said they were damaging to the game's reputation.

"The NBL has a strong reputation as a family-friendly sport, and the type of incidents that occurred on the weekend has the potential to damage that reputation," he said.

"We simply cannot allow the hot-headed actions of a few individuals to do that.

"We won't tolerate players flopping in games, nor will we accept players being the 'second-man in' once an altercation has started.

"We will also hold our coaches and officials accountable under the rules of the game."

But while Slepoy accepted the fines were fair, he defended his players and insisted flopping was the bigger offence.

"It never should have happened," he said.

"It's probably detrimental (to the game's reputation) but people understand it is about the building emotion.

"Whether it's basketball, football, rugby, they are all emotional situations and this was just an expression of emotion."

Perth's Brad Robbins was also fined $500 for joining a fight as the Wildcats went down 69-65 to Adelaide.

AAP