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[Saba Sports News] The Brooklyn Nets might be facing scrutiny from the NBA’s top brass. According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the league is examining the team’s decision to rest several players during their recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, assessing if it constitutes a finable offense.
In the game in question, the Nets chose not to play four of their players—Nic Claxton, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Cam Johnson—and removed another three—Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas, and Royce O’Neale—after just the first quarter. This strategy led to their 144-122 loss to the Bucks.
The NBA has historically been critical of teams resting healthy players, a practice known as load management, and implemented stricter rules in the offseason to curb this trend. However, it appears unlikely that the Nets will be found in breach of these new regulations. The game against the Bucks wasn’t nationally televised, and none of the rested players are considered “stars” under the NBA’s definition (players who have made an All-Star or All-NBA team in the last three seasons). The only player on the Nets’ roster who fits this criterion is Ben Simmons, who has been sidelined for nearly two months with a back injury.
The Nets argue that resting the players was necessary due to the game being the second of a back-to-back and part of a demanding schedule of six games in ten days. However, this move was disappointing for fans who had purchased tickets expecting to see a high-profile matchup with Milwaukee.
The NBA has previously levied fines on teams for similar actions under existing load management rules, and it remains to be seen if the Nets will face similar consequences for their decision.