The NBA is reportedly implementing a new resting policy for the 2020-21 season that will prohibit teams from resting players for high-profile, nationally televised games, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Violations of this new rule could result in a fine of at least $100,000, Haynes’ reporting indicated.
Other elements of the new policy reportedly include a mandate against resting multiple healthy players for the same game, as well as a stipulation that teams should not rest healthy players on the road. In situations when a team decides to rest a healthy player, the policy says that player should be visible to fans, Haynes added.
Resting players in an effort to ensure their health — as well as attempting to maximize their effectiveness over the course of a full season and playoff run — has been an NBA coaching tactic for years. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich regularly sat his former star players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to increase the likelihood of their post-season availability. LeBron James, too, has often been rested to preserve himself for deep playoff runs.
Recently, the technique garnered widespread attention in 2019 during the Toronto Raptors’ load management of Kawhi Leonard, whose chronic quad condition requires ongoing maintenance. Monitoring Leonard’s workload throughout the season is thought to be a contributing factor in why he was able to play a full post-season at a high level.
Critics of the resting players tactic often point to the disappointment fans experience after paying to watch a game in person, under the assumption they will see high-profile NBA stars compete, only to learn those stars will be rested at the last minute.
The NBA season is slated to begin on Dec. 22.
[relatedlinks]
