The NBA wants its star players to participate in more contests. In order to help that, the NBA Board of Governors approved a new player participation policy. The league will start fining players who are resting players in specific situations. This new load management policy will look to prevent players from missing too many games.
The new regulations are intended to prevent clubs from benching numerous players during a single game. During nationally televised contests and tournament games, and for lengthy periods of time. The league has set a given set of criteria to define what a ‘star’ player is in these potential situations.
The requirements are straightforward: You are a star if you have been selected to an All-Star squad or an All-NBA team in the preceding three seasons. This leaves 49 total players across the NBA that fit that given criteria.
Teams Impacted By New Rules
When teams break the new rules, the league will look into it and fine them accordingly. There will be a $100,000 fine for the first time, $250,000 the second time, and $1.25 million the third. For any additional offenses, fines will keep rising at a pace of $1 million. Fines will be sent to teams rather than individuals because this is a league rule and not a provision of the CBA.
Ironically enough, only a few of the top teams in the league will be impacted by these new rules. Not even the Denver Nuggets, the reining champions, have the two players to meet that criteria. However, if Murray gets the respect he deserves during the regular season, that will change.
While not a perfect model, it does offer a step in the right direction in order to help keep players from taking extended periods of games off. It’s unknown at this point just how effective this will be. However, the NBA is clearly putting its foot down towards finding a proper solution.
