[Saba Sports News] The NBA is implementing new rules to address the widespread issue of “load management” that has plagued the league in recent years, but there are exceptions being made. “Load management” involves teams resting healthy players to prevent overexertion, often resulting in star players sitting out games, disappointing fans who have invested in tickets and time to watch them play.
The league’s new rules aim to increase the participation of star players and reduce instances of multiple star players being healthy but not playing. However, the NBA will grant exemptions to older and accomplished “star” players.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the NBA will permit pre-approved designated back-to-back allowances for players who are 35 years old at the start of the season or have extensive career workloads of 34,000 regular-season minutes or 1,000 regular-season and playoff games combined. This exemption applies to seven veteran star players, including LeBron James, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, and James Harden.
While there are other active players who meet the criteria mentioned, they do not qualify as “star” players, to whom these rules specifically apply.
The NBA aims to ensure that its All-Stars and All-NBA players participate in games rather than sitting on the sidelines while also considering the career longevity of older players.