The NBA has fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy after the team rested Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley during their November 12 game against the Miami Heat. Both players were listed out for load management, a decision the league ruled inconsistent with the policy, which requires star players to be available for regular-season games whenever possible.
The practice of resting key players has become increasingly common as teams look to preserve them for the playoffs, but the NBA classified both Mitchell and Mobley as 'star players', making their absence a breach of the updated guidelines.
According to Yahoo, Mitchell has sat out two of Cleveland’s first 13 games this season, including the matchup against Miami. His only other absence came on Halloween in a 112–101 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Mobley, meanwhile, has missed just the one game - the Heat contest that led to the fine. Since then, both players have appeared in all three of the Cavaliers’ subsequent games.
The NBA introduced the Player Participation Policy ahead of the 2023–24 season to curb the growing trend of healthy star players sitting out games. For years, teams frequently rested top talent during regular-season matchups - including nationally televised games and NBA Cup fixtures - disappointing fans who purchased tickets expecting to see marquee players.
The issue is even more significant when visiting teams rest stars, as it may be the home crowd’s only chance to watch them in person.
The Player Participation Policy features an escalating penalty structure: a first violation results in a $100,000 fine, a second leads to a $250,000 fine, and each additional violation carries a reportedly $1 million penalty.
The practice of resting key players has become increasingly common as teams look to preserve them for the playoffs, but the NBA classified both Mitchell and Mobley as 'star players', making their absence a breach of the updated guidelines.
According to Yahoo, Mitchell has sat out two of Cleveland’s first 13 games this season, including the matchup against Miami. His only other absence came on Halloween in a 112–101 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Mobley, meanwhile, has missed just the one game - the Heat contest that led to the fine. Since then, both players have appeared in all three of the Cavaliers’ subsequent games.
WHAT IS NBA'S PLAYER PARTICIPATION POLICY?
The NBA introduced the Player Participation Policy ahead of the 2023–24 season to curb the growing trend of healthy star players sitting out games. For years, teams frequently rested top talent during regular-season matchups - including nationally televised games and NBA Cup fixtures - disappointing fans who purchased tickets expecting to see marquee players.
The issue is even more significant when visiting teams rest stars, as it may be the home crowd’s only chance to watch them in person.
The Player Participation Policy features an escalating penalty structure: a first violation results in a $100,000 fine, a second leads to a $250,000 fine, and each additional violation carries a reportedly $1 million penalty.
