Derek Fisher highlights a growing issue in today's NBA: 'There's not as much practice now, anyway, just due to the schedule'

Today's NBA is quite different from the league it once was. It is a star-driven league, so it is no surprise that players greatly impact the team activities. The association is trying to cut the number of back-to-back games and have a less packed schedule to protect players' health and improve the quality of basketball.

However, as retired Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher recently pointed out, an unanticipated effect has emerged: teams now have less time to prepare, which impacts players' performance and perseverance. 

"There's not as much practice now, anyway, just due to the schedule," Fisher said. "By not having the four and five nights or the three and four nights and trying to limit the back-to-backs, then that spreads the games out. They literally are playing every other day. There is no day to practice."

No time to practice

According to Fisher, the lack of structured training time might contribute to some of the physical issues athletes face today. Regular practices allow players to train in a controlled setting, helping them better prepare for the demands of a live game. Without these sessions, they have trouble competing during the grueling 82 games of the season.

"You're not practicing, which helps to train your body to actually handle what comes in the game," Fisher said.

While fewer games in short spans theoretically reduce injury risk, the tradeoff is a reduction in essential team workouts that build chemistry, conditioning, and game preparedness.

Balancing load management and preparation

This is in addition to the problem with practicing load management, which has been hated by both fans and the media. While the intent is clear and focused on the end result, it has sparked criticism as most argue that stars sitting out too often diminish the quality of the product.

Fisher's perspective adds another layer to this debate: If players aren't training as much due to the current schedule, how prepared are they for the physical toll of games? It's a balancing act for NBA teams — finding ways to keep players healthy while ensuring they're prepared for competition.

"Sometimes, when you would play three or four nights, then there would be maybe a three-day stretch where you didn't have a game, and then you could have a couple days of practice," Fisher explained. "That then would kind of prepare you for that next week, so those opportunities are missing at this point."

Teams must continue to optimize player preparation without overloading them. Whether through innovative training methods, shorter practices, or rethinking how rest is used, a middle ground may be necessary to maintain both players' health and the quality of the game.

As Fisher's observations suggest, training isn't just about physical rest — it's about preparing the body to handle the demands of the sport. Without enough practice time, preparation becomes increasingly difficult, and injuries occur more often.