The NBA’s new rest policy is part of recent efforts to make the regular season more meaningful. Over the past few seasons, teams have chosen to sideline star players if they are healthy enough to play.
Resting the best players for the playoffs makes sense, but regular season games still need to have meaning. Teams are no longer allowed to rest more than one star player at a time or for a nationally televised game.
There are some additional rules to the rest policy for NBA players, but all you need to know is that star players won’t be absent as often as they used to be.
“If the science was more clear that players should rest, we would support it.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the board’s decision-making process behind the new player participation policy. pic.twitter.com/YlDe2nMqBk
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 13, 2023
While this should be a good thing for the league as a whole, there are reasons why certain teams rested their star players. Below are the four teams most affected by the NBA’s new rest policy.
phoenix suns
The Phoenix Suns have a star-studded roster, but they probably weren’t too happy to hear about the rule change. Their top stars include Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Durant is 35 years old, but he hasn’t played more than 60 games in a season since the 2018-19 season.
Beal has also struggled to stay healthy in recent years and is not getting any younger. Booker is the most reliable of the three, but he’s already dealing with a calf strain.
Phoenix is fully committed to this season, but the NBA’s rest policy could put added pressure on its injury-prone stars.This is what you should remember when doing something online gambling in arizona.
When NBA players take time off, their on-court accomplishments can be undone, and it can also impact how bettors place their bets.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have rested their star players as much or more than any other team in recent years. They have an incredibly talented squad, but health is a big issue for them. I think I’ve seen Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in street clothes more than actual uniforms.
After making the James Harden’s blockbuster trade, the Clippers added another superstar to their lineup. Not to mention, Russell Westbrook also re-signed with Los Angeles this offseason.
With four big-name players on the roster, it will be difficult for the Clippers to acquire them throughout the year.
golden state warriors
No other NBA team has more players on the “star” list covered by this rule than Golden State. The league’s leading four stars include Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul.
The Splash Brothers are NBA icons, so it’s a shame that fans can’t come to town and see them play. They also weren’t very durable late in their careers, which is why NBA players’ rest policies have a big impact on them.
Adding CP3 to the mix should make things interesting, but the 38-year-old could use a break here and there.
Los Angeles Lakers
Both Los Angeles teams will have to adapt to the new rule changes. After all, this policy focuses on NBA stars. Who has been the biggest star of the past 20 years? None other than LeBron James.
The Lakers will certainly use some rest from LeBron throughout the year, but with the new rules, we’ll likely see more from the 38-year-old. This is not only true for King James, but also for Anthony Davis.
Davis had major health issues with the Lakers, so it will be interesting to see how he holds up in 2023-2024.