By October 14, 2024, when Joel Embiid and Paul George sat out Philadelphia’s season opener, social feeds exploded with quips like “Nothing tells you the NBA is back more than Embiid not playing”. Secondary‑market prices for 76ers tickets plunged as low as $2, a 15% drop from rest nights. Even during his limited appearances, “F–k Embiid” chants echoed through the Wells Fargo Center. The load management in the NBA is not just driving the fans crazy. Lou Williams had his say, too.
Even the players get how awkward this whole thing is. Without holding back, Anthony Edwards stated bluntly, “You have to play if you’re 80%.” Fans may only get to see you once. LeBron also added that, unless he is seriously injured, he detests sitting out. On his podcast, Paul George also acknowledged that load management got out of control, saying, “We kind of started abusing it a little bit.” So yes, everyone knows it’s messy—it’s just no one’s totally sure how to fix it.
Lou Williams recently dropped some truth on The Underground Lounge podcast, clearing up the load management situation. He said, “It’s never the players asking to not play games; we gotta get that out. The NBA, they got a great marketing team, and they’ve allowed the players to take the brunt of the criticism with the load management conversation.” Props to Lou for defending the players. It usually isn’t in the players’ hands if they play or not. The coaches get the final say.
But the real cherry on top came from Kevin Hart, who couldn’t resist chiming in under a post. He joked, “When I played, my coach did this all the time… I needed the rest.” Classic Kevin, making light of it all while still throwing in that perfect comedic touch.
Let’s circle back to the real talk Lou Williams dropped during The Underground Lounge podcast. He’s straight-up calling out the misconception that players are the ones skipping games for no reason. Lou set the record straight, saying, “From a fan standpoint, please stop criticizing the players for load management…it is a schedule, and it is planned out and everybody that’s involved has a say in it.” What he’s saying here is that it’s not just the players making these decisions on their own—there’s a whole crew behind the scenes, from coaches to medical staff, and they’re all part of the decision-making process.
And finally, Lou threw in an interesting solution, casually suggesting, “I think you should shorten the season,” though he didn’t dive into it. Maybe that’s something worth thinking about, but that’s a conversation for another time.
Magic Johnson slams NBA’s load management
Johnson has been vocal about his concerns regarding the modern trend of load management in the NBA, and his thoughts shine a light on a bigger issue: the impact it has on both the game’s integrity and the fans. In a candid conversation on NBC’s The Today Show, Magic didn’t hold back, stating, “I hate it. I dislike it.” His frustration is clear — it’s not just the players’ availability that’s in question, but how that affects the fan experience. He pointed out, “It’s a difference now, and fans see it. And fans are reacting to load management. They don’t get to see their stars.”
Michael Jordan prided himself on his availability and effort, playing all 82 games in nine of his 15 seasons. Johnson echoed that sentiment, though, lamenting the lack of commitment from today’s players. Johnson himself never played a full 82-game season, but that wasn’t by choice. He recalled how the Lakers’ head athletic trainer, Gary Vitti, had to physically stop him from playing when he was injured. That shows a different mentality — one of commitment and grit that was prevalent in Magic’s era.
This mentality is something Lou Williams also touched on when he pushed back against the idea of players being “soft” when they sit out. “These motherf—– got torn ACLs and MCLs and bad backs and knees and all of that,” Lou said, reinforcing that injuries are no joke. Players aren’t just taking time off for a breather; they’re recovering from injuries that many of us can’t even imagine.
Lou also spoke about how, toward the end of the season, when a team’s playoff spot is secured, the focus shifts to staying healthy for the long run, not just pushing through every game. And that, in a nutshell, sums up the balancing act between player health and fan expectations in today’s NBA.
Unlike other sports, basketball is one where squad depth is not a benefit but a requirement. With some players out for 82+ games a year, the physical demand is taxing. But does that justify the stars of the squad being a no-show for fans who travel thousands of miles? What do you think?
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