Zaza Pachulia receives warning for violating NBA's anti-flopping rule

Zaza Pachulia is the first Atlanta Hawks player to receive a warning from the NBA for violating the league's anti-flopping rule. Pachulia is the eighth different player to be warned under the new system. Reggie Evans and Gerald Wallace are the only players to be fined as repeat offenders.

Pachulia's "flop" allegedly happened during the fourth quarter of the Hawks win over Washington last Friday and The Point Forward's Ben Golliver describes the play in question:

Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin swung his elbows after corralling a defensive rebound. Although Pachulia was standing near Seraphin, the elbows connected with nothing but air. That didn't stop Pachulia from flopping backwards as if he had been struck in the head. An official was standing nearby and did not bite on Pachulia's gamesmanship.

Pachulia will be subjected to a fine should he be ruled to have violated the policy again this season. The beginning fine starts at $5,000 and grows all the way to $30,000 for a player's fifth violation. Anymore than five in a season and the player will be subjected to discipline from the league.