The Cleveland Cavaliers were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy. The penalty was issued after the Cavaliers chose to rest All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley during their game against the Miami Heat on November 12. This action was deemed a breach of the newly implemented policy aimed at minimizing load management, which stipulates that no more than one star player can be unavailable for the same game.
Under the policy established for the 2023-24 season, a “star” player is defined as any individual who has been selected to an All-NBA Team or an All-Star in any of the previous three seasons. The regulations do account for exceptions related to injuries and personal reasons, as well as pre-approved restrictions for back-to-back games, particularly for aging players or those with significant injury histories.
The Cavaliers managed to secure a 130-116 victory over the Heat, despite being without Mitchell, Mobley, Darius Garland, and Max Strus. This win places Cleveland at a commendable 10-5 record and second in the Eastern Conference, with a recent strong performance of 7-3 over their last ten games.
Donovan Mitchell is currently fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 30.9 points per game, which would set a new career high for the nine-year veteran. He is also excelling in shooting, with a career-high of 50.9 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point range. He showcased his scoring prowess by contributing 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting in a recent match against the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, Mobley is also enjoying a standout season, averaging 18.9 points and attempting a career-high 4.7 three-point shots per game.
Both players earned accolades last season, with Mitchell being selected to the All-NBA First Team for the second time in his career and Mobley receiving his first All-NBA Second Team honor. After finishing as the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the previous season, the Cavaliers look to build on their success this year as they continue to navigate through a demanding schedule.
This fine serves as a reminder of the NBA’s efforts to prioritize player participation and enhance the overall game experience for fans. While the Cavaliers’ victory is a positive outcome, it raises questions about the balance between player resting and the integrity of competition.