The National Basketball Association have introduced a new rule to combat 'flopping' after a perceived rise in the number of players simulating fouls to gain advantage.

The NBA's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said the new sanctions were designed to eradicate flopping from the sport.

"Flops have no place in our game - they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call," Jackson said.

"Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the competition committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should - after a warning - be given an automatic penalty," he said in a statement.