NBA president of league operation Byron Spruell has sent a memo to teams with a clarification on load management.
Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports Tweeted the memo in a thread:
In memo sent from NBA president of league operation Byron Spruell to NBA teams, league clarifies that "that “load management” is not an injury or an appropriate description of an injury under the Injury Reporting Procedures." 1/x
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) November 11, 2019
More from memo: “Load management” (or a similar phrase such as “return from” an injury) is a permissible description only in connection with a healthy player who misses a game due to rest that is permissible under the Resting Policy. 2/x
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) November 11, 2019
In essence, league doesn't want Clippers using 'load management' as a reason for sitting Kawhi Leonard in games since Clippers have determined and told NBA that Leonard is suffering from an ongoing injury to the patella tendon in his left knee. 3/3
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) November 11, 2019
Load management has once again been a topic of discussion after the Los Angeles Clippers sat Kawhi Leonard last week in a nationally televised game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Clippers were fined $50,000 by the NBA for statements that were inconsistent with Leonard’s health status the following day.
Leonard dealt with left knee tendinitis during the 2019 Finals against the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers are monitoring that injury and Leonard’s quad ailment which forced him to miss most of the 2017-18 season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Whether people like it or not, LA is going to load manage Leonard because they want the superstar to be as close to 100 percent once the playoffs start. It worked for the Toronto Raptors last season. Leonard averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists during the regular season for Toronto, guided the Raptors to the championship over the Warriors in six games and won his second Finals MVP.
Kawhi has played in seven games this season. He’s putting up 29.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest.
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