New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson objected to a flopping technical foul called against him during a preseason game with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, according to the licensed report.
The call came in the first quarter, during a sequence involving Minnesota center Rudy Gobert. The report says Gobert made contact with Brunson as the two battled for position, after which Brunson stumbled. Play continued, and an official later whistled Brunson for flopping as Minnesota took a three-point shot by LaMelo Ball. Brunson was heard protesting the call on the broadcast.
The incident comes as the NBA is emphasizing enforcement against flopping for the 2026-27 season. The league’s stated focus, as quoted in the report, is on exaggerated or theatrical movements intended to draw a call.
A flopping technical carries a game consequence beyond the foul call: the opposing team receives a free throw and possession, according to the report. That makes the officials’ judgment on whether a player exaggerated contact consequential, particularly in close games.
The preseason play offers an example of the challenge officials face in applying the rule when contact occurs. The report describes contact by Gobert before Brunson stumbled, but the technical was assessed to Brunson. The game was a preseason matchup; the account does not establish how consistently the league’s emphasis will be applied during the regular season.
