Kendrick Perkins didn't hold back when he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to call out the NBA's ongoing flopping problem. The former NBA champion and current analyst argued that the league's current penalties just aren't cutting it, especially during high-stakes playoff games where every possession matters.

"The NBA has to get back to fining guys for flopping. That's the only way to fix it," Perkins said, pointing to what he calls "unethical hooping" that's becoming all too common in the postseason.

Perkins' comments come on the heels of a heated Game 2 in the Western Conference Semifinals, where the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. The game wasn't without controversy—referee calls drew heavy criticism from both sides, with the Lakers particularly vocal about the officiating.

The Thunder's victory was powered by balanced scoring, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each dropping 22 points. A pivotal moment came in the third quarter when a foul on Gilgeous-Alexander was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after review. Despite the Lakers briefly grabbing the lead, OKC responded with a dominant 32-15 run while SGA sat on the bench, effectively putting the game out of reach.

With this win, the defending champion Thunder remain perfect in the 2026 postseason at 6-0, while the Lakers head back to Los Angeles facing an 0-2 deficit.

Perkins believes the current system—where floppers receive a technical foul and the opposing team gets just one free throw—doesn't go far enough to discourage the behavior. He's calling for significantly larger fines that would actually hit players where it hurts: their wallets.

According to Perkins, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver needs to step in and address the issue head-on, as fans and analysts alike grow increasingly frustrated with players exaggerating contact. The message is clear: if the league wants to clean up the game, it's time to make floppers pay—literally.