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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teams must ensure that healthy players resting for a game arepresent and visible to fans.