Don't know when flopping got so easy to see at the NBA level but it sure does seems to coincide with the internationalization of the players. Most of those players were probably brought up playing and watching soccer.
As an aside, NBA flopping has become almost as comically entertaining as soccer flops. Of course, that's probably because soccer players can fly through the air and only have to worry about landing on soft turf and not a hard wood floor.
I don't doubt football has had an impact. But I think it's more that previous generations of players would have been ashamed at the idea of doing it whereas modern players have the mentality that anything goes as long as we win.
The parallel in football (You know, the sport that is played with the feet) is English clubs in Europe. Whilst we've been quite successful over the years there has been a constant issue with the physicality the English club players show compared to the European style of exacerbating contact. It's held English clubs back that we haven't followed the same path.
I guess what I'm saying is that if the refs and league allow it then it is the best path for the players to take if they want to win. Just like in European football, most will say it's a legit part of the game.
Sickens me personally, it is a form of cheating just the same as drugs. The values it teaches is awful, based on principle alone the league should be fining as a % of wage at the very least
