Lakers star sends defiant $2,000 message to NBA after flopping fine

Lakers wing Ziaire Williams was fined $2,000 on Monday for flopping during Sunday’s comeback win against the Jazz.On Tuesday, Williams was asked about the league’s ruling and said that if he had to do it again, he’d do it.“Do I agree with it? Not necessarily, but it’s the league’s rule,” Williams told Khobi Price of the California Post.“I paid my fine.

If I gotta flop again to get a win, then that’s what I’ll do.”Williams added that he asked his agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA Sports, to look into appealing it.“I thought it was a good defensive play,” Williams said.“… I sent it to my agent; hopefully we can appeal it, but if not, it is what it is.”Williams was asked if the money has already been pulled from his bank account.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure they did.I don’t know where that money is going, but they [took] it out of that account real quick.”Williams’ flop happened at the 4:44 mark of the fourth quarter after he exaggerated contact when Jazz guard Keyonte George drove to the basket.George’s attempted play was a midrange shot that would’ve put Utah up by three points.

Instead, he was called for an offensive foul — resulting in Los Angeles gaining possession of the ball.While the Lakers went on to win the game, Williams said his play isn’t the worst flopping play the NBA has seen and is curious to see what happens the rest of the season.“I’m not mad about [it] or anything, and it’s not going to affect the way I play defense.I’m always going to do what it takes to win,” Williams said.Just before the 2023-2024 season, the NBA announced it would begin fining players $2,000 for flopping during games.Through three games this season, the Lakers forward is the only player on the team to be fined for flopping....