A high-ranking NBA official has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of “load management,” a practice used by teams to give their players rest and prevent injuries. The NBA official says scientific data doesn’t support load management. In the past, it was widely believed that resting players for a certain amount of time was necessary to keep them in top shape and justified their absence from games. However, more recent data suggests that resting players doesn’t necessarily reduce injuries or fatigue. Instead, it reveals that players may not perform at their best during back-to-back games.
NBA Official Says Scientific Data Doesn’t Support Load Management
Many of the NBA’s star players have embraced load management as a way to stay fresh and make a strong push for the NBA Finals. While this practice has generated a lot of discussion, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes that the league’s top players aren’t actually missing too many games. He points to real medical and scientific data to support his view.
To ensure players are eligible for awards like the MVP and All-NBA teams, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association have agreed that players must participate in a minimum of 65 games. Additionally, the NBA’s Board of Governors has introduced a rule that prevents teams from resting two-star players in the same game. This means teams like the Phoenix Suns can’t rest both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the same night. Violating this rule results in fines, starting at $100,000 for the first offense and increasing to $250,000 for the second offense. Subsequent violations will be fined $1 million more than the previous penalty.
These new policies aim to encourage star players to play in more games. The practice of star players sitting out games has negatively impacted nationally televised games and fans’ ticket purchases. With these changes, fans can expect to see more of the NBA’s biggest stars in action during the 2023-24 season and beyond. The regular season kicks off on October 24.
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