Last Friday, The Oklahoma City Thunder was able to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, but they did it without any of their five starters.
The starting program is led by the favorite of the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he, with the other four starters, all had at night in their 107-89 victory.
Obviously, thunder was ok, but the NBA investigates the issue to have potentially violated the participation policy of the league players, according to ESPN.
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Isaiah Hartenstein, # 55, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, # 2, Alex Caruso, # 9, Luguentz Dort, # 5, Jalen Williams and Adam Flagler, # 14 Oklahoma City Thunder during the match against the Blazers of Portland Trail on the 7, 2025 at Pyycom Center at Oklahoma. (Zach Beeker / NBAE via Getty Images)
It was the second match of a consecutive back, and this week, the Thunder had a robust schedule, including another back on the back against the Denver Nuggets and a potential confrontation of the NBA final against the Boston Celtics. (They separated with Denver and beat Boston on the road.)
Saturday also starts another back for OKC against pistons and bucks, which both have qualifying series.
The Thunder is 54-12, good for easily the first record of the Western Conference. It is easy to say that they play the long game, because they have the seeder n ° 1, except won. However, the NBA began to suppress load management for players.
It was only the second time that Gilgeous-Alexander missed a match this season, which was absent because of what the team called “Rest”. However, OKC listed injuries for the other four starters.
Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks were sentenced to a fine of $ 750,000 for the players sitting in a match, but it had been a clear effort to tank for a better choice of draft.
November 16, 2022, Washington, DC: Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) Dribble the court during the first half against Washington Wizards in Capital One Arena. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SPORTS)
The banners of the Bulls championship were removed after the damage during the United Center concert
Later in 2023, the League voted in favor of a new policy of participation of the players, which would prevent the teams from resting a star player in a national television match or for the games of the tournament in season.
The association was also to investigate the 76ers of Philadelphia in the middle of the absence of Joel Embiid earlier this season, and they are now considered due to the missing matches of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey while their season continues to weaken.
The teams are not allowed to ensure that players stop playing in the long term unless they are injured.
November 16, 2022, Washington, DC: The Oklahoma Thunder goalkeeper City Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a basket in the first half against Washington Wizards in Capital Onena. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SPORTS)
The policy also stipulates that players must play in at least 65 of the 82 regular season competitions on the calendar to be eligible for league prices, including MVP and All-NBA teams.
