NBA Investigates Thunder for Benching All Five Starters in Victory

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a bold move last Friday, benching all five starters, including MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, yet still managed to crush the Portland Trail Blazers in a commanding 107-89 victory.

The NBA has taken notice, however, and is now investigating the Thunder for possibly violating the league's player-participation policy, according to ESPN. This policy aims to curb excessive load management and ensure fans get to see star players in action.

Despite missing the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander due to "rest" (a term that sometimes feels like code for "strategic chill time"), and listing injuries for the other four starters, the Thunder held their ground. It was only the second game this season Gilgeous-Alexander sat out, which is a testament to his durability, but still raises eyebrows regarding the team's decision.

With a demanding schedule, including back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics earlier this week, and another set against the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks this weekend, the Thunder seem to be playing the long game. They hold the NBA’s best record at 54-12 and have essentially locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. It’s safe to say they’re in no rush to wear down their stars ahead of the playoffs.

However, this isn’t the first time teams have drawn scrutiny for resting players. The Dallas Mavericks were fined $750,000 two years ago for blatantly tanking in a game to secure a better draft pick. And with the NBA’s newer policy introduced later in 2023, teams are now restricted from resting star players during nationally televised matchups or in-season tournament games.

This policy also mandates that players must participate in at least 65 of the 82 regular-season games to remain eligible for league awards like MVP and All-NBA honors. It’s a move aimed at maintaining the integrity of both the game and its biggest prizes.

Currently, the Thunder aren’t alone in the spotlight. The league has also been keeping a close eye on the Philadelphia 76ers, who faced scrutiny earlier this season due to Joel Embiid’s absence. Now, the association is investigating the absences of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey as they struggle through their own season.

While teams are allowed to sideline players dealing with legitimate injuries, the NBA is cracking down hard on situations that might, let’s say, stretch the definition of "injury." Whether this Thunder strategy draws fines or just a sternly worded memo remains to be seen.