The Golden State Warriors’ decision to rest their three star players against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night could result in fines from the NBA.
Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green have all been ruled out of the game against Oklahoma City. Curry will miss the game due to a left ankle sprain, Butler has been ruled out due to illness and Green is listed as out for rest.
Warriors could be fined for resting stars for nationally televised game against Thunder
The thing that could get the Warriors in some hot water is the fact that the game between Golden State and Oklahoma City will be nationally televised on Prime Video. The NBA doesn’t like when stars sit for nationally televised games.
The league’s updated player participation policy could prompt the league to look into the absences to determine if they were legitimate or not. If determined that they weren't legitimate, fined could be handed down.
Here's some additional information about potential fines related to the game, via ESPN:
"The Friday night game against the Thunder is on Prime Video. The NBA has a recently implemented player participation policy for its stars on nationally televised games. Butler and Curry have been All-Stars in the previous three seasons, so they qualify, meaning the league could fine them $100,000 if they deem their absences illegitimate."
The Warriors deciding to rest Curry, Butler and Green does kind of feel like a preemptive waiving of the white flag. But, it could also be a strategic move, as the game against Oklahoma City is the first night of a back-to-back for Golden State.
The Warriors also have a home game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. By resting their trio of older stars against a dominant Thunder team, it could provide an improved chance of all three guys being available for the more winnable game against the Jazz.
The game against the Jazz isn't nationally televised, though, and the game against Oklahoma City is. That distinction could force the Warriors organization to pull out the checkbook.