One of the more interesting storylines of the 2020 NBA offseason has been the unrest in Los Angeles, with reports suggesting Los Angeles Clippers players were upset Kawhi Leonard and Paul George could essentially handpick rest days.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported the NBA has updated its resting protocols from 2017, with teams now facing a $100,000 fine for resting healthy players:
“Yahoo Sources: NBA implementing new resting policy for 2020-21 season with teams prohibited from resting healthy players for any high-profile, nationally-televised game and violation could result in a fine of at least $100,000,” Haynes reported Monday.
Of course, the ongoing concern over COVID-19 will be something to weigh in terms of health. But Haynes noted the expectation is healthy players will be on the court or, at the very least, on the bench:
“Yahoo Sources: On new Player Resting Policy, absent unusual circumstances, team should not rest multiple healthy players for same game and teams should not rest healthy players on road,” Haynes said. “And in situations when teams decide to rest healthy player, player should be visible to fans.”
Granted, the new policy stipulates fines will likely only be levied if healthy players miss marquee games. Still, this could emphasize the strategic element of load management.
It is hardly uncommon for star players to get multiple nights off during the regular season, and Leonard was frequently a healthy scratch, though the Clippers frequently attempted to circumvent the rules by coming up with some kind of injury designation.
But organizations and star players might have to start mapping out ideal “rest days” so as to avoid possible fines.
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