LeBron James, Six Others Qualify for Exception to NBA’s New Resting Rule

The league is allowing dispensations for a handful of veteran players.

The NBA is trying to clamp down on load management by passing a new rule that limits how often teams can rest their star players by holding them out of games. The league now can fine teams starting at $100,000 for resting star players in nationally televised and in-season tournament games or for resting multiple star players during the same game, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The new policy describes a star player as anyone who has been named to an All-NBA or All-Star team in the past three seasons. However, some players who fit this criteria will be exempt.

The league will pre-approve load management for stars who are 35 years old by opening night or have amassed 34,000 regular-season minutes or a combined 1,000 regular-season and playoff games, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports.

Seven players fit that description, headlined by LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Chris Paul, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan and Mike Conley also will be eligible for exceptions.

LeBron James is one of seven players who will be exempt from the NBA’s new rule in regard to resting stars :: Cary Edmondson/USA Today network

Additionally, according to Marks, teams can seek pre-approval to sit players who have extensive injury histories, but those will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The NBA also will consider exceptions for players with personal reasons, a bona fide injury, roster management and late-season flexibility.