When Kawhi Leonard debunked the 'load management' criticism

A term that has gained considerable prominence over the years in the NBA is load management. It is defined as the practice of resting players who are cleared to play and using their services judiciously to avoid injuries that could hamper their playoff chances.

Fans, experts, and former players have criticized the above practice. Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard has been the face of this infamous movement for a long time. The two-time champion's injury rehabilitation process has been under scrutiny since his days in San Antonio.

Having had enough, Klaw refuted the above narrative against him, revealing the severity of his injuries. The two-time Finals MVP addressed how the situation on the Raptors differed, and he was following what his doctors prescribed.

Kawhi breaks silence load management allegations

The veteran forward finally decided to address the most common criticism against him of missing games during a media interaction last season. When asked if it was an obligation for him to play every game.

Kawhi responded, “I mean, I’m not a guy who’s just sitting down doing load management. When I was with the Raptors, it was different. I was coming off an injury, and you got to know the details of the doctor. But If the NBA tries to mock that, they should stop.”

The six-time All-Star’s limited attendance during the regular season, especially on the Clippers, fueled several conspiracy theories. Nonetheless, since arriving in LA, Kawhi has dealt with some gruesome injuries, especially his partial ACL tear, followed by a torn meniscus on his right knee and an inflammation on the same knee.

NBA issued new rules to curb load management cases last season

As per NBA.com, Commissioner Adam Silver’s new policy had the following mandate .

• At most, one-star player on the squad can rest for a game. (These are names who have been an All-Star or All-NBA in any of the past 3 seasons.)
• Star players should be available during nationally televised games and the full schedule of in-season tournaments.
• Given the fans who come to watch them, it is prioritized that the star player be rested during home games over the road.
• Healthy resting players must be present in the arenas and visible to fans.
• The integrity of the game shouldn’t be affected if the star player is absent or available in a limited capacity.

Nonetheless, there are exceptions for injuries, personal absences, and playing back-to-back. Veteran players such as LeBron James and Chris Paul have exclusive rights, subject to being 35+ years of age and having played a certain number of games.

Related: Ty Lue once told Kawhi and PG to get serious about the regular season