NBA Instituting Rule to Curtail ‘Load Management’

The NBA and players’ union have agreed to a new labor deal of at least six years, and one of the new rules will attempt to take a bite out of load management, or players missing games for the sole purpose of rest.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the new rule states players must play in at least 65 of the 82 regular-season games to be eligible for any of the major individual awards — such as league MVP or Defensive Player of the Year. It will go into effect starting next season.

The NBA confirmed the new collective-bargaining agreement in a press release.

Load management has been a controversial topic across the league in recent seasons, with teams generally instituting it and players taking most of the flak from media and fans. The union reportedly was behind the idea of finding ways to eliminate it.

The new collective bargaining agreement will start with the 2023-2024 season, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 1, 2023

Along with the load management rule, the sides reportedly agreed to hold an in-season tournament and keep the draft age limit the same — with prospects still needing to be a year removed from high school to be draft-eligible.

Par Shams Charania of The Athletic, players on the winning team of the in-season tournament will each receive $500,000.

Hoops Wire will have more on this story as it develops.

Sources: Additional changes in new CBA:

– A second tax apron that, when reached, will eliminate a team's taxpayer mid-level exception

– Veteran extension limits will increase from 120 percent to 140 percent

– A third two-way contract via cap exception https://t.co/OWyMT7tQMF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2023