Michal Jordan played 82 games in nine of his 15 career seasons in the NBA. Today, NBA stars routinely sit out not due to injury, but for load management.
Load management is a strategy used by teams and athletes to limit a player’s workload in order to prevent injuries and extend their careers. Players may miss practice or certain games in the regular season.
Chris Henderson, a sophomore nursing major at the University of North Georgia, said, “I have found that constant trauma and pushing the body physically can be detrimental to an athlete’s health.”
Patrick Corrigan, a junior business administration major at UNG, said, “The NBA’s load management protects star players for the long term but risks disappointing fans in the process.”
Despite fan attendance staying relatively the same, according to MorningBrew.com, NBA television ratings as of Dec. 19 have seen a 19% drop off from last season.
“Load management is harming the NBA’s brand and fan engagement. Fans buy tickets, tune into broadcasts and emotionally invest because they expect to see star players. While resting these players can be beneficial short term, it frustrates fans, hurts TV ratings and attendance, and can negatively affect sponsorships. I think for marketing, the NBA needs to find a balanced approach that helps incentivize participation, while also maintaining player health.” – Micah Bennett, senior marketing major, UNG
Anthony Edwards, a professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, in a New York Post interview, was asked “What would you change about the league?” He said, “Probably just all the guys sitting and resting… if you 70-80% you gotta play.” He later acknowledged the fan aspect of the game saying fans may only be able to come to one game a year, and the star they may want to watch sits out.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the problems. He said he feels for the hypothetical family that might have gone to a game that LeBron James might’ve missed. In a Fox Sports interview, he said, “We added some provisions to further incentivize players to play as many games as they possibly can by making them ineligible for certain rewards, certain benefits if they fall below a certain level of games.”
Sierra Fowler a UNG graduate and former goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team said, “I don’t think it is necessary to sit games unless your body can not keep up…I don’t believe [load management] [is] necessary to staying healthy.”
