The NBA has made it plain, through new policies and sanctions, that healthy players should be on the court.
The players, who are adamant about not sitting, make no protest.
Some people dislike load management just as much as viewers who wonder why some of the world’s top sportsmen require a night off so frequently. They also want the league to recognize that there are occasions — many of them during Kawhi Leonard’s lone season in Toronto — when they must listen to their bodies or doctors.
“I was coming off an injury, and you have to know the doctor’s details,” Leonard, who is now with the Los Angeles Clippers, said on Monday. “However, if the league is watching or mocking what I did with the Raptors, they should stop because I was injured the entire year.” Aside from that, if I’m able, I’ll play basketball. In the summer, I’ll work out every day to play the game, not to sit and watch others play. There is no league policy that encourages me to play more games.”
Some of Leonard’s recent absences are of the type that the NBA hopes to minimize with its “player participation policy,” which goes into force this season. He missed 22 games in 2018-19, with the Raptors being cautious not to overdo him after returning from a thigh ailment that limited him to nine games the previous season. The league worries that scheduled evenings off, also known as load management, have grown far too popular — and potentially harmful if they drive away viewers.
“I think the league is trying to figure out ways to make our game better, to help grow the game, understanding that fan engagement is important for all of us,” said New Orleans guard CJ McCollum, the president of the players’ association. “As a fan of sports, when you go to a game, you want the stars to play. You’re paying a premium on the ticket … or maybe it’s the cable package or whatever you have, you want to see the best players play.”
The policy prevents teams, without approval, from resting multiple star players (defined as anyone who was an All-NBA or All-Star selection in the prior three seasons) in the same game, or sitting healthy ones in nationally televised or in-season tournament games.
The league has vowed to examine specific absences, with penalties exceeding $1 million if a team commits three offenses.
“Obviously, the NBA is always looking for methods to get the greatest players to play. And why is this so? “We want people to turn on their televisions and watch,” said Michael Malone, coach of the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. “And they’re going to watch when the best players show up every night and play.”
In recent years, this has happened far too infrequently. Even though the league has removed back-to-back games from teams’ schedules and limited and enhanced travel, some of the league’s top players rarely play in more than 82 games. Fans blame the players, despite the fact that Commissioner Adam Silver stated even before the new regulation was implemented in September that it is typically up to the clubs to decide when they would be rested.
“I think the league’s approach to encouraging players to play more is fantastic.” “I’m trying to play as many games as I can,” stated Boston’s Jaylen Brown. “It’s not always the players.” I know that’s the story, that it’s the players’ choice not to play. I won’t go into specifics, but this isn’t usually the case.”
Another new policy is geared toward them. In most cases, the current collective bargaining agreement requires players to compete in 65 regular-season games in order to be eligible for honours such as MVP or All-NBA teams.
“I believe there are players throughout the league who may sit out because they do not want to play, want to rest, or for other reasons.” But I think playing at least 65 games is smart for the league, the fans, and everyone,” Miami’s Tyler Herro said. “At the end of the day, this is a business.” Many people come to watch us play. I wouldn’t want to be a fan who came to see me play and found out I wasn’t going to play because I didn’t want to.”
Marcus Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year in Boston last season and would not want to disqualify himself this season by missing too many games. But he knows he’ll have to miss some games and, like Leonard, is unconvinced by the league’s new rule.
“I can care less what anybody says about that, because they’re not out there throwing their body around like I am,” said Smart, who is now living in Memphis. “So how can you tell me when I should and shouldn’t play?” If I don’t feel like I can play, I’m not going to play. But if I’m available and able to play, you can bet I’ll be there.”
