ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania reported Friday night the NBA is looking into the Oklahoma City Thunder regarding their actions on March 7. The Thunder are being investigated for “potentially violating the league’s player participation policy.” In that game, OKC rested the entirety of their starting rotation. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein were out for the game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Gilgeous-Alexander was out with rest, Williams had a right wrist sprain, Holmgren had a right lower leg contusion, Dort had a knee issue, and Hartenstein had a nasal fracture. Being without so many key players did not impact the Oklahoma City Thunder as they rolled to a 107-89 victory.
The NBA has become more stringent as “Load Management” is one of the league’s biggest problems. The Utah Jazz received a $100,000 fine earlier this week for consistently resting Forward Lauri Markkanen. How will this situation between the league and the Oklahoma City Thunder resolve itself?
Oklahoma City Thunder Were Set To Begin a Brutal Stretch
The March 7 game at home against the Portland Trail Blazers preceded one of the toughest three-game stretches a team could have this season. Two days later, OKC began a back-to-back, with both games coming home against the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder went 1-1 over that stretch.
On March 12, the Thunder visited the Boston Celtics. OKC would prevail 118-112. The evidence about the game on March 7 paints a damning picture for the Thunder. Entering a stretch of three games against two of the NBA’s best teams, Oklahoma City rested their starters against the Blazers to prepare for the gauntlet.
Whether one likes the policy or not, it seemed the Oklahoma City Thunder blatantly disregarded the league’s player participation policy. The league should be handing them a hefty fine in the coming days. The only way to prevent the epidemic of teams resting star players is to levy heavy fines.
Final Thoughts
Oklahoma City returns to the court tomorrow night on the road against the Detroit Pistons. Both Holmgren and Williams are expected to be sidelined for the contest. That fact will not ingratiate the team to the league as they are reportedly looking into the alleged infraction. Williams played in both Denver games. Holmgren played against in all three games. The basketball world will be watching how the NBA handles this situation and what it means for the rest of the league.
