Adam Silver answered multiple questions about load management during his press conference at All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City.
“I’m not sure,” said Silver when asked if the number of games missed without serious injury is a big problem for the NBA. “You see, I hesitate to weigh in on an issue as to whether players are playing enough because there is real medical data and scientific data about what’s appropriate.
“Sometimes to me the premise of a question as to whether players are playing enough suggests that they should be playing more; that, in essence, there should be some notion of just get out there and play. Having been in the league for a long time, having spent time with a lot of some of our great legends, I don’t necessarily think that’s the case.
“The world that we used to have where it was just get out there and play through injuries, for example, I don’t think that’s appropriate. Clearly, I mean, at the end of the day, these are human beings — many of you talk to and know well — who are often playing through enormous pain, who play through all kinds of — you know, I hesitate to label them injuries, but play through all kinds of aches and pains on a regular basis.
“The suggestion I think that these men in the case in the NBA somehow should just be out there more for its own sake, I don’t buy into.
“I think, on the other hand, then there’s the fan aspect it of saying, all right, well, if that’s going to be the case, that players are not going to be able to participate in a certain amount of games, what should the response be from the league, and how should you be presenting your product?
“It’s interesting, because even given where we are now, I don’t think the issue is quite what some suggest. I mean, our stars are not missing that many games for resting. I mean, we have injuries. I think we would all agree that’s a separate issue. But sort of as a measure of single games missed, it’s not that bad.”
Silver also addressed the possibility of lengthening the schedule to accommodate 82 games over a longer period of times to avoid as many games on back-to-back nights as possible.
“We are very focused on it. We hear it from our fans when players aren’t there,” Silver said. “We think we can do a better job, but we don’t have a specific solution yet.”
