As load management becomes an increasingly common occurrence in the NBA, more and more analysts and former players find themselves speaking up against it.
On ESPN’s First Take on Friday, Kendrick Perkins became the latest to blast the practice during a heated segment on the show.
“Guys today, when it comes down to their mental toughness, are softer than funereal music. And when I say that, I say that to say this: it’s starting to get beyond disrespectful not only to the fan base that’s out there but it’s also disrespectful to the guys who paved the way today for guys to be getting $30-40 million a year. You had guys like Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, those guys were available. Those guys showed up to work. Michael Jordan showed up to work. These guys are doing a disservice to the next generation that’s coming up.”
.@KendrickPerkins weighs in on players resting in the NBA:
"It's starting to get beyond disrespectful." pic.twitter.com/xpxERue7jr
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 24, 2023
According to Perkins, it’s the players who could ultimately suffer the most from this ‘load management’ era. If the product suffers, so will their financial opportunities. Of course, let’s also not forget about the fans who pay for tickets to catch their favorite players, only for them to skip the game for no good reason at all.
It’s an unfortunate trend in the league today that has gained more popularity than ever. But it’s hard to ignore the negatives this practice has on the league and the risks involved with letting it go unchecked.
NBA Must Take Action Against Load Management
If the NBA wants to respect the fans and protect the integrity of the game, they’re going to need to step in and come up with a solution that incentives players to play as much as they can.
Unfortunately, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t seem too interested in taking such measures and even suggested it was an inevitability for the game today.
No matter how you feel, it seems this conversation is going to remain a hot debate over the next few years as the league finally catches on and recognizes load management for the problem that it is.
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