aims directly at stars who sit during nationally televised games. It doesn't demand All-Star and All-NBA players eschew injuries to go out and perform for the betterment of television, but it makes it harder for marquee players to find reasons to sit.
The teams will point to the science, citing the players need rest based on the minutes and often-rigorous travel that can leave bodies weary. At least, that’s what the media was always told when players would sit — particularly in places where a star would visit only once through the year and everyone would fold their hands, bury their heads and behave as if powerless.
“I think in the case here, that part of the commitment here from the league office is we are putting together a group of team doctors and scientists and others and trying to better understand it. One thing I want to make clear, the message to our teams and players is not that rest is never appropriate. And realize, there’s a bit of an art to this, not just a science.
Unlike his predecessor, David Stern, who took over when the league was in dire straits financially and needed partnership to help grow the NBA into the monster it is today, the players don’t have to “play ball” with the commish. It means there will likely be more nationally televised games in a couple of years, outside of ESPN and TNT, its two partners right now. The in-season tournament is one thing, but the NBA can’t increase its 82-game schedule as a selling point, and any prospective carrier who could have a Tuesday night or Saturday night package would love to know going in the NBA’s stars will be available.
Games are every other day, and sometimes the off day is just for travel from one venue to the next. The playoffs are always an arduous grind, but there’s an ease to it, the consistency of the calendar because it’s not tougher than the regular season.