Which teams are impacted most by potential new NBA rule?
The NBA's projected rule to limit teams from resting multiple stars is a welcome development for fans, but which teams will it impact the most?
Per Shams Charania, the NBA board of governors is expected to vote on a measure to prevent teams from not playing two star players in a game, with the NBA defining a "star" as someone who was an All-Star or All-Pro within the past three seasons.
From 2020-21 through 2022-23, 49 players have been named either an All-Star or to an All-NBA team, with 26 teams having at least one player earning the "star" designation.
The Magic, Pistons, Spurs and Wizards are the only teams without an All-Star or All-NBA team member from the past three seasons on their rosters, so at least Gregg Popovich will still be able to rest players whenever he wants.
His Spurs teams in the early 2010s with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker are viewed by some as the catalyst of the NBA's load management issue.
Among the teams that will be impacted, six have at least three "star" players. The Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton), Bulls (DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic), Cavaliers (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell) and Suns (Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant) each have three.
The Timberwolves (Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert) and Warriors (Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins) lead the way with four apiece.
If the rule passes, teams like the Clippers and Mavericks would have to pick and choose when to rest stars, while the Sixers won't be able to keep disgruntled James Harden on the bench as they seek a trade if it needs to rest Joel Embiid.
Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is the only "star" in Portland (not that he needs any reminding), so they could have an easier workaround as they try to find a suitable landing spot after he requested a trade this summer.
While the move should help curb some load management, it won't rid the sport of it completely. Teams with one "star," including Zion Williamson in New Orleans and Ben Simmons in Brooklyn, will still be able to sit them whenever they want to.
A rise in quick substitutions will likely be on the rise as well, as coaches insert stars into the starting lineup just to take them off the court early in the game.
Of course, the NBA could fix the problem by scheduling fewer back-to-backs, which is when teams often rest starters, anyway.
Even with a couple of issues, the proposed rule is a step in the right direction.
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