The NBA Board unanimously approved on Wednesday a new regulation aimed at preventing teams from excessively resting their key players. According to the new rule, each team can only rest one star player at a time during the 82 games of the regular season in the United States’ basketball league. Failure to comply with this rule can result in fines of up to $1 million.
Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, explained that the expectation is for healthy players in the league to actively participate in games. The primary motivation behind this change is to ensure that all stakeholders in the league, including fans, understand that this measure is intended to benefit the public.
With the introduction of this new rule, the NBA hopes to increase interest from both fans and television broadcasters in the league’s regular season games. The definition of “stars” includes players who have been selected for an All-Star Team or an All-NBA Team in the last three seasons. Therefore, the regulation directly affects 50 players from 25 teams, including 15 teams that have multiple stars in this category.
Fines for non-compliance with the rule start at $100,000 for the first offense. In the case of a second violation, the fine increases to $250,000. From the third offense onwards, the team is penalized with a substantial fine of $1 million.
It is important to note that the new regulation includes exceptions for injuries, personal reasons, and pre-approved allowances for situations involving consecutive games, taking into account the player’s age, career workload, and injury history.
Related Brands
Find out more about me & the news on Spotify
Passionate sports news author, trailblazer, and captivating storyteller. Redefining sports journalism with her insightful coverage and engaging style. Breaking barriers and inspiring readers worldwide.
