Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards echoes Kobe Bryant's past criticism of load management

It was reported last week that the NBA and NBPA were considering a rule change that would focus on reducing load management by making regular-season awards dependent on a player's number of games played.

Talks are reportedly ongoing as two sides continue their collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The opt-out deadline for the agreement is March 31.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is unofficially credited with popularizing the strategy in 2012 when he held out veteran star players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili from regular-season games in preparation for a playoff run, but the tactic seems to continue to grow each year.

Oftentimes the players who get managed this way are older players who have extra miles on their legs from many postseason runs (like LeBron James) and/or those with past injury issues (like Kawhi Leonard).

While Bryant was retired for three years when he made his load management comments, Edwards' playing career is just taking off. The 21-year-old is only in his third NBA season and has been one of the most durable players in the league since being selected No. 1 overall by the Timberwolves in 2020.

Edwards played in all 72 games during his rookie season, 72 of the 82 contests during the 2021-2022 campaign and has suited up in all 61 of Minnesota's contests this season as well. Jaylen Nowell is the only other Timberwolves player to appear in every game this season.

Barring injury, it doesn't look like Edwards will be on the bench any time soon, as the Timberwolves can't afford to have one of their best players miss action. Minnesota comes out of the All-Star break right in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference at 31-30 and eighth in the standings.