Gregg Popovich is widely regarded as the first NBA coach to rest healthy players in what has become known as “load management,” but he wants no credit or blame for a practice that he thinks has gotten out of hand.
On Wednesday, Popovich insisted he “never” did load management, but instead monitored the minutes of stars like Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan in a bid to extend their careers. Furthermore, he added that load management in today’s game has become “farcical.”
Pop in Boston, summarily rejecting the crown as "The Godfather of Load Management:" pic.twitter.com/bt4iAEFmCW
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) January 8, 2020
Most would argue that resting older players with injury history is the exact definition of load management. In fact, it’s a practice that he has gone out of his way to defend in the past. Considering the Spurs were once punished by the NBA for resting players in a primetime game, Popovich’s protestations here feel a little bit empty. While he’s right that load management is at an all-time high in the NBA, he’s still the coach who opened the door to the entire practice.
