Jimmy Butler says NBA's new resting rules will have 'zero' effect on how many games he plays
BOCA RATON — Heat forward Jimmy Butler says the NBA's new resting rules will have "zero" effect on how many games he plays during the regular season.
Butler, who's had various knee/back issues, hasn’t played more than 65 games since 2016-17 season. When asked Wednesday how much he'll change how he load-manages his season, Butler scoffed.
“Because I don’t care about no All-NBA team, I don’t care about no damn awards. I’m going to play the games that I am healthy and I’m going to go out there and help my team win," Butler said from the team's training camp at Florida Atlantic University. "They can put a number on whatever they want to put a number with, everybody can hate me, I’m still going to eat dinner with my kid at night.''In September, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver struck back on the state of the modern NBA when top players rest their bones even in marquee matchups. The league has instituted a series of resting rules, including stars must be available for nationally televised contests and the new in-season tournament. It was a nod to the networks that fund the exorbitant salaries.
Other “resting’’ rules stated teams must balance between home and road games for a player and refrain from a long-term shutdown. Another NBA statute has 65 as the minimum number of games for awards
The worst offenders in the past are big names, including LeBron James (only recently), Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis.
Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo is perplexed why a “policy’’ needed to be drawn up on the simple issue of playing games when healthy.
"If a guy is injured, he’s injured,’’ said Adebayo after the Heat’s first training camp practice at FAU Tuesday. “If you could play, you should play. I feel like we shouldn’t have to put in a policy for guys to compete. It’s something a lot of us love to do and we did it for free when we were little. So a lot of this shouldn’t be taking place.’’
Asked if he was surprised it came to this NBA edict, Adebayo said: “Not shocked. I feel every year they’re trying to have guys available and play more.’’
Last season, the Heat were fined $25,000 for failing to hand in a proper injury report vs. Oklahoma City. In response, the Heat listed on the injury report every player on the roster for the next game vs. San Antonio.
However, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra denies his team is playing tricks with its injury list. It should be noted the Heat rumbled to the Finals after being an eighth seed during which Kyle Lowry, the point guard, was kept out of 27 games with chronic knee issues.
“We’re not a load management team,’’ Spoelstra said. “What the league is doing is good. Availability and trying to get our best product out there to that audiences to see is good. There’s an aspect where we have to protect our players when there are injuries. That’s a balance. The fact they are being intentional is a good step.’’
What constitutes a star in today's NBA?
The unclear part is what the definition of a "star’’ is.
“I’m exempt because I’m old," said Lowry, a six-time All-Star.
More: Miami Heat open camp in Boca Raton and FAU Owls ready to 'steal little things from them'
Also a former All-Star, Miami’s backup big man Kevin Love said: “We throw around superstar too loosely. Star, I don’t know how you quantify that. Is it strictly numbers? Here, like coach Spo says, if you’re here and available, and you can practice, go through shootaround, you should go through a game if you’re available to play."
Lowry praised Silver for attempting to curtail those national games when the big names are seated on the bench.
“One thing about our league, it makes an adjustment every single season to better the league," Lowry said. “I think this will help the league, help with more fan engagement. And help get our stars out there more."
Another addition is the in-season tournament beginning in early November and concluding in Las Vegas in early December. Some think it feels like a desperate attempt to add more meaning to the regular season.
“It’s the same amount of games," Adebayo said. “I feel like it will get viewership up more at a time when football is really at its peak. We’ll get more viewership with the in-season tournament. I see nothing wrong with it."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Heat's Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo question NBA's new resting rules
