The NBA has never been deeper as almost every team has a bonafide star and parity in the playoffs exists for the first time in recent memory.
The 2023-24 NBA season features several championship hopefuls and anything can happen once the 2024 NBA Playoffs roll around.
However, teams have also been more wary about player safety and health as they’ll opt to rest their best players if they’re dealing with any sort of injury or illness.
The 82-game season is a long and grueling one and devastating injuries to some of the game’s biggest stars have pushed the needle too far into the conservative approach of handling them.
The league has already had to implement measures to stop teams from resting players in national television games, but that hasn’t stopped them from doing so in less-publicized matchups.
One anonymous NBA legend acknowledged how much he loves today’s game but would prefer to see players gut out playing whenever they can via NBA insider Sam Amico.
“I love today’s game. It’s fantastic, fun. But those guys need to be out there. Healthy, sick, injured. They make enough now that their great, great grandchildren will never have to worry. The return is you play, end of discussion.”
NBA legend who prefers to not be named tells me: “I love today’s game. It’s fantastic, fun. But those guys need to be out there. Healthy, sick, injured. They make enough now that their great, great grandchildren will never have to worry. The return is you play, end of…
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 18, 2024
Older NBA players have lamented the fact that players will sit out games, but it’s never solely their decision.
Coaching and training staffs have a lot of input on whether or not someone sits and often times it’s out of the player’s hands.
However, the point remains that players should try to play in as many games as possible because NBA fans deserve to see teams at full strength.
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