What happened: Officials assessed Jalen Brunson with a flopping violation on a play involving Rudy Gobert. The whistle came in preseason action ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Why it matters: Preseason whistles offer an early read on how officials police embellishment. High-profile calls tend to draw attention because they set expectations for the regular season.

What to watch: Whether that standard holds once the regular season begins is the next data point.