The NBA’s recent change of stance on load management is making my head spin. Just a short while ago, the league emphasized the importance of players getting rest based on scientific evidence collected by teams. The league made adjustments to the schedule, eliminated disruptive morning shootarounds, and invested heavily in sports science and data collection. However, now the league is saying that the data does not support the need for resting players in relation to injury prevention or fatigue. Instead, the data suggests that players may be less efficient when playing back-to-back games. NBA executive vice president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, stated that the league has obtained new data that contradicts the previous conclusions. Commissioner Adam Silver also acknowledged the inconclusive nature of the science. The league is now assembling a team of doctors and scientists to better understand the issue. Despite this, the league maintains that rest is still appropriate in certain circumstances and that there is an art to managing player workload. The NBA has previously stressed the importance of load management based on science and data, but now it appears to be shifting its position.
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