In a significant move to maintain the competitive spirit of the game, the NBA Board of Governors has approved a new policy that empowers the league to impose fines on teams that decide to rest their star players during matches. This decision comes as a response to the growing trend of ‘load management’ where teams rest their key players to keep them fresh for crucial games, especially during the playoffs.
Details of the New Policy:
- The policy will be applicable to nationally televised games and in-season tournament games.
- Teams could also face penalties for resting multiple star players during regular-season games.
- The primary objective of this policy is to prevent teams from resting players, or limiting their roles, especially when the “integrity of the game” is in question.
- For the first violation, teams will be fined $100,000. The second violation will attract a fine of $250,000, and each subsequent violation will see an increase of $1 million.
Definition of “Star Players”: The term “star players” refers to those who have either been part of the All-Star team or have been named to the All-Pro team in the last three seasons.
Historical Context: Load management has been a strategy employed by several teams to ensure their star players are in optimal condition for the playoffs. Notable players like LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers have been given days off during regular seasons in the past. With the introduction of this new policy, teams like the Clippers and Lakers might have to rethink their strategies, especially concerning when and how they rest their star players.
A notable incident that might have influenced this decision involves the Dallas Mavericks. The team faced scrutiny for resting Kyrie Irving and limiting Luka Doncic’s playtime towards the end of a season when they still had playoff aspirations. This move was seen by many as a tactic to secure a better draft pick. Following an investigation, the Mavericks were fined $750,000.
In 2020, the league tried to address the issue of load management by imposing a $100,000 fine on teams that rested fit players during nationally televised games. However, the guidelines provided teams with some leeway, allowing them to rest players under “unusual circumstances.”
Key Points from the League Memo:
- Teams should ensure that no more than one-star player is unavailable for the same game.
- Star players must be available for national television and in-season tournament games.
- Teams should balance the number of one-game absences for a star player between home and away games, with a preference for home games.
- Teams should avoid any long-term shutdown of a star player, especially in situations affecting the game’s integrity.
- Healthy players resting for a game should be present and visible to fans.
This policy, approved by the Board of Governors, is a clear indication of the NBA’s commitment to ensuring that fans get to see the best players on the court, maintaining the competitive nature of the game.
