The NBA is considering imposing higher penalties on teams if they rest their superstars too often. Under the new rules, the league could impose millions of dollars in fines.
By Thomas Gallus
“Load management” has long been a hotly debated topic in the NBA. Teams are increasingly resting their superstars so that they stay healthy throughout the season.
The league doesn’t like that, especially when the big stars are missing from primetime games. Fans who buy expensive tickets to see their idols remain disappointed when they don’t take the stage.
The NBA is now trying to counteract this: As “ESPN” reports, the league board is planning to introduce stricter rules and higher penalties against “load management”.
In particular, the league wants to take tougher action starting next season if teams allow two or more top players to take a break from a nationally broadcast game.
A first violation is punishable by a $100,000 fine, a second violation by $250,000. From the third offense onwards, each subsequent offense will result in an additional $1 million.
The NBA also has a precise definition of “star”: it means any player who has been selected to either the All-Star team or the All-NBA team in the last three seasons.
It is not the league’s first attempt to combat excessive star suspensions: The NBA previously introduced a rule that requires players to play at least 65 games to be eligible for individual awards.
The new NBA season starts on October 24th with a clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and defending champion Denver Nuggets.
2023-09-12 11:00:00
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