NBA plans to implement stricter fines for teams who rest star players

Alex Kennedy
Sept 11 2023

The NBA has tried to limit teams from resting their stars in the past. Now, the league office is getting even stricter and implementing penalties for teams who rest their best players in prominent games (such as nationally televised contests and in-season tournament games), according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The NBA is also cracking down on instances when teams rest multiple All-Star players.

"The NBA's competition committee recommended a plan that the league's board of governors is expected to approve Wednesday," writes Wojnarowski. "It would ultimately give the league office authority for greater oversight over discipline for missed games and an ability to fine teams over $1 million for each instance of violating resting rules, sources said.

"The NBA is defining a star player as someone who's made the All-Star or All-NBA teams in any of the three previous seasons, sources said," he added. "The NBA will incorporate a fine system for teams that begins with $100,000 for first offenses, $250,000 for second offenses and $1 million more than the previous penalty for each additional fine, sources said."

ESPN obtained a memo from the NBA to its teams, which stated that the league office will investigate each specific situation and consider independent medical reviews. The memo states:

  • Teams must manage their roster to ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game.

  • Teams must ensure that star players are available for national television and in-season tournament games.

  • Teams must maintain a balance between the number of one-game absences for a star player in home games and road games – with a preference for those absences to happen in home games.

  • Teams must refrain from any long-term shutdown – or near shutdown – when a star player stops participating in games or plays in a materially reduced role in circumstances affecting the integrity of the game.

  • Teams must ensure that healthy players resting for a game are present and visible to fans.