Warriors’ Steph Curry explains important misconception about NBA load management debate

After going off for 38 factors, eight rebounds and 12 assists within the Golden State Warriors‘ 128-120 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night time, Steph Curry weighed in on the load management debate, which has been raging throughout the league in current weeks.

“I campaign to play every game,” Curry said. “That’s the misconception about load management and how it goes. It’s never the player that’s saying, ‘Hey, I want to sit.’ For all those people worried about that part of our league and all that, it’s usually not the player that’s going to the training staff and saying, ‘Hey, I don’t have it tonight.’ It’s usually the other way around and there’s a lot of science involved.”

Curry and the Warriors had been the themes of criticism earlier this month when the staff rested him, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins for his or her lone journey to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers — a recreation that got here on the second night time of a highway back-to-back. Warriors coach Steve Kerr called the decision a “brutal part of the business” and advocated decreasing the schedule to 72 video games. 

That recreation between the Warriors and Cavs was simply certainly one of many this season, and this month specifically, which were ruined by stars sitting out — both resulting from relaxation or damage. Other notable showdowns we have missed embrace Nikola Jokic versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant in opposition to LeBron James. 

Every time there is a string of incidents like this, the load management debate kicks off once more. Often, it is the gamers who bear the brunt of the criticism — from followers who’ve purchased tickets to video games solely to search out out that their favourite celebrity is not going to be in motion, but additionally media members and former gamers. 

While the present state of affairs definitely is unfair for followers, Curry’s level is important and would not get sufficient consideration throughout these conversations. Sure, some gamers are simply there to gather a examine, however that is no totally different than any job. The majority, although, are ultra-competitive and need to be on the ground as usually as doable. 

But given the size of the season, the grueling journey schedule, and the 1000’s of miles they’ve placed on their our bodies all through the years, it is of their greatest curiosity to take sure nights off. Those relaxation spots are scheduled nicely prematurely by the organizations’ sports activities medication division and are primarily based on critical science and information about participant efficiency. The various is operating them into the bottom, which might end in extra long-term accidents and shorter careers, and nobody needs that. 

Barring a shock determination by the league and the gamers to shorten the common season within the subsequent CBA, load management and the debates surrounding it’ll by no means go away. Likewise, neither will the divisions between the assorted camps, that are nicely entrenched at this level. But no matter facet of the debate you are on, it is price remembering Curry’s level subsequent time the subject comes up.