In recent years, load management has become a trend in the NBA, with a number of stars sitting out games they were able to play in merely for rest and recuperation.
While load management has its advantages, it can hurt a team while also cheating fans out of the hard-earned money they pay to see such stars play, either in person or on their screen of choice.
In an attempt to curb this practice, the NBA instituted a new rule this season that players must play in a minimum of 65 regular-season games in order to qualify for individual awards.
Indiana Pacers rising star Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t like this rule, and he even called it “stupid,” per James Boyd of The Athletic via Legion Hoops.
Tyrese Haliburton on the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for regular season awards:
“It’s a stupid rule.”
(via @RomeovilleKid, https://t.co/PSuNznxjpe) pic.twitter.com/6Tkgw13XdP
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 30, 2024
Haliburton, who made his first All-Star team last season, has upped his game this season by averaging 23.6 points and a league-high 12.6 assists a game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from 3-point range.
He’s the biggest reason the Pacers are averaging an amazing 124.8 points a game, which is tops in the NBA, and have become one of basketball’s most exciting teams to watch.
In addition to that, they have become a playoff-caliber team, and they had a 27-20 record and were in sixth place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday’s game against the first-place Boston Celtics.
Indiana recently acquired two-time All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, and his arrival may not make them championship contenders, but it should make the race for the Eastern Conference more interesting.
With Haliburton continuing to emerge as a force and Siakam on board, perhaps they will become an elite team not too long from now.
NEXT: Tyrese Haliburton's Outfit Had Fans Talking Monday