The issue of “load management” has become a hot-button issue in the NBA in recent seasons. On Thursday, longtime NBA player and current NBA analyst, Richard Jefferson of ESPN, weighed in on the matter.
Jefferson recalled coming into the league where every team had one trainer and lacked the modern amenities like traveling masseuses, cold tubs and hot tubs.
More importantly, he also recalled growing up in a house without great financial means. One year, his Christmas present was a ticket to go see his favorite player, David Robinson. His family could not afford a second ticket, so Jefferson was dropped off at the game, watched by himself and picked up later. He also remembered how much that moment meant to him when, years later, Jefferson got to play against Robinson in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals, Robinson’s final game.
“So I take that responsibility and say, wait, we can’t just gloss over this,” Jefferson said. “And I blame the teams. I blame the training staffs. Because the players in this generation are doing more of what they are told, then going out there and leaving it all out on the floor.”
.@Rjeff24 shared a powerful message on load management in the NBA: pic.twitter.com/viewFKM5P3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 26, 2023
Jefferson later retweeted the video. He re-emphasized that the responsibility for load management games lies with the “owners, coaches and training staffs.”
The @nba says they need to address it. I’m agree but it’s the OWNERS, Coaches and training staffs… NOT THE PLAYERS DICTATING THIS. I https://t.co/03uPYS2wWB
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) January 27, 2023
His comments drew a lot of support from basketball fans.
This man is one of us. Let’s fix this issue @NBA! https://t.co/wvnN62hdro
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) January 27, 2023
All facts! This is real 100% https://t.co/0pKqM7NvLc
— Jerel McNeal (@jerel_mcneal) January 27, 2023
THIS is it. 👏 @Rjeff24 https://t.co/MbdxSZAQzh
— Danielle McCartan from WFAN (@CoachMcCartan) January 26, 2023
Been to too many games recently where stars sat for #loadmanagement. For any fan going to see their favorite player and they're not playing to rest, it's sad and an awful feeling for parents to see their kids upset because their heroes chose not to play. https://t.co/RGPjFPRrdM
— Courtside Collectibles (@CourtsideCards) January 27, 2023
Agreeeeeee https://t.co/w4kP4WBzRv
— Romeo Travis (@RomeTrav) January 26, 2023
What’s interesting is that virtually everyone agrees that the issue of load management is a serious one. The Golden State Warriors recently sat stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coach Steve Kerr was sympathetic to the paying fans, but said that the answer is a shorter season.
Whether Kerr’s solution is the right one is debatable. A shorter season would also less revenue for everyone. That would undoubtedly be a major sticking point for all parties involved.
But regardless of what one thinks the right solution is, it’s ultimately hard to dispute Jefferson’s argument that something needs to be changed.
[NBA on ESPN on Twitter]