NBA officials are currently investigating the Thunder for possible violations of the league’s player-participation policy, according to Shams. The investigation stems from the fact that the Thunder’s starting five — Alexander, Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Dalter and Haltenstein — all sat out the game against the Trail Blazers.
Despite the Thunder’s eventual victory in that game, NBA officials remain suspicious of the Thunder’s actions, suggesting that they may have improperly suspended key players. The action may have violated the NBA’s player entry policy, which is designed to ensure the health of players and the fairness of the game.
Thunder supporters, however, took to social media to complain about the NBA’s investigation. They pointed out that the Thunder played eight games in 13 days at the time and had a dense schedule, players could have been injured from fatigue if rotation breaks were not allowed. This view has also led to discussions about NBA scheduling and player health protection.
It’s worth noting that NBA officials keep a close eye on potential absentee misconduct in the league. Earlier, the Jazz was fined $100,000 for keeping Markkanen out of a game. In addition, the 76ers have also been investigated by NBA officials for player absences. Currently, the 76ers Embiid has been out for the season, while Maxie and George are out with injuries.
For their part, the Thunder could face further investigation and possible penalties from NBA officials. At the same time, the incident has led to more reflection on player health, scheduling and team management strategies. In future games, the Thunder and other teams will need to be more careful about how they handle player breaks and absences to ensure fair play and player health.
