The controversy behind the NBA resting players seems to be growing by the minute. I am not an avid NBA fan, as the sport has lost my interest over the years. However, I do what I can to follow the Boston Celtics. My lack of interest in the NBA would make the situation even more devastating if I finally decided to get out to a game against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, just to find that a healthy Isaiah Thomas, Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, or even Kevin Love is on the bench. In fact, the same can be said for any team. If I came across tickets to a Spurs vs. Cavs game in Cleveland and half of San Antonio’s team was on the bench, I would be irate.

​

I think it is despicable to have players “rest” throughout the regular season in such a money hungry industry. NBA players, assuming they play every game (which some do not), play 82 games within roughly 170 days from the end of October to mid-April. Although the games are not played on a consistent day-on day-off schedule, players are mathematically seeing action about once every two days. At this point in my life, I would beg to go into work/class once every two days. Sure, I may have a few disappointed fans if I do not show up to campus to listen to a lecture or to mow the grass for maintenance, but it can be taxing work sometimes.  I understand Lebron James might get tired after a five-game road trip from city to city, but the man has teammates. If your best player is tired, give him a few extra minutes on the bench. If nothing else, at least let your stars slam home a couple of dunks during warmups instead of putting on suits and watching all the action from the sidelines.  

​

The NBA is not a dying industry; fans continue to come to games and pay high prices and should be rewarded for doing so. Not everyone is blessed to get out and play basketball every day, so it is hard for people like me to sit back and watch multimillionaires tell other multimillionaires to take the day off…of basketball. James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Steph Curry have all played upwards of 230 games since the start of the 2015 season, and all three of these players are undoubtedly having remarkable success. One could call it a matter of age, but repeat offenders like LaMarcus Aldridge and Lebron James are 31 and 32 years old, not much older compared to players like Curry.

​

Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner has begun to combat the issue by threatening heavy fines to teams that sit star players in televised games, but it will truly be a waiting game regarding how the “resting” epidemic will play out.