Ahead of the start of the new 2023-24 NBA season, the league introduced a new Player Participation Policy, find out more about the rule and the players impacted below
The new Player Participation Policy will mainly impact the biggest names and stars in the league.
NBA new Player Participation Policy rule explained, violation rules meaning and list of players impacted in 2023-24
ESPN asked the NBA about James Harden and new Player Participation policy. League is investigating. NBA spokesman Mike Bass: "We're looking into the facts around James Harden's availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 26, 2023
Charles Barkley on the NBA’s player participation policy:
“Don’t get me started, man. You’re just going to make my head hurt on the first f—ing night. This is a joke & a disgrace that we’re paying guys $50, 60M a year to play basketball a few days a week.”
(via @BenGolliver) pic.twitter.com/LpzNudc2WA
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 24, 2023
According to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, tougher rules would make stars more available and curb load management, which he said “has gotten away from us a bit.”
NBA Player Participation Policy explained
Prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved a new Player Participation Policy. According to the new policy, NBA teams must demonstrate an approved reason to the league as to why their stars do not participate in a game. A star in the NBA team is any player who has made an All-Star or All-NBA Team in any of the previous three seasons.
This includes the likes of players like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic, Ben Simmons and Mike Conley. Given below are the details of the new Player Participation Policy according to the NBA:
- Manage the team roster to ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game
- Ensure that star players of each are available to play for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games
- Maintain a balance in a star player’s number of one-game absences in home and away games
- Avoid long-term “shutdowns” where a star player stops playing games
- When resting a healthy player, the player concerned should be present at the games and visible to fans
In general, the main aim of the new policy is to have stars available in more matches. It also aims to prevent multiple stars from missing out the same game particularly In-Season Tournament and national TV games.
NBA Player Participation Policy violation rules
NBA teams that violate the Player Participation Policy are subject to the following fines:
- $100,000 for the first violation
- $250,000 for the second violation
- $1.25 million for a third violation
- $1 million more than the previous penalty for violations beyond the third
Full list of NBA “stars” impacted by the Player Participation Policy
Given below is the full list of NBA players in the 2023-24 season that have made an All-Star or All-NBA Team in the last three seasons. These players are “stars”, based on the new Player Participation Policy:
| Player | Team |
| Dejounte Murray | Hawks |
| Trae Young | Hawks |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics |
| Jrue Holiday | Celtics |
| Ben Simmons | Nets |
| LaMelo Ball | Hornets |
| DeMar DeRozan | Bulls |
| Zach LaVine | Bulls |
| Nikola Vucevic | Bulls |
| Jarrett Allen | Cavaliers |
| Darius Garland | Cavaliers |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers |
| Luka Doncic | Mavericks |
| Kyrie Irving | Mavericks |
| Nikola Jokic | Nuggets |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors |
| Draymond Green | Warriors |
| Chris Paul | Warriors |
| Andrew Wiggins | Warriors |
| Fred VanVleet | Rockets |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Pacers |
| Paul George | Clippers |
| Kawhi Leonard | Clippers |
| Anthony Davis | Lakers |
| LeBron James | Lakers |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Grizzlies |
| Ja Morant | Grizzlies |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat |
| Jimmy Butler | Heat |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks |
| Damian Lillard | Bucks |
| Khris Middleton | Bucks |
| Mike Conley | Timberwolves |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves |
| Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves |
| Zion Williamson | Pelicans |
| Julius Randle | Knicks |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder |
| Joel Embiid | 76ers |
| James Harden | 76ers |
| Bradley Beal | Suns |
| Devin Booker | Suns |
| Kevin Durant | Suns |
| De’Aaron Fox | Kings |
| Domantas Sabonis | Kings |
| Pascal Siakam | Raptors |
| Lauri Markkanen | Jazz |
However, the same rules don’t apply for every “star”. Players who are over 35 years old on opening night, and have logged 34,000 regular-season minutes or have previously appeared in a combined 1,000 regular season and playoff games, will have “pre-approved designated back-to-back allowance.” Given below is the list of players who fall into this category:
| Player | Team |
| DeMar DeRozan | Bulls |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors |
| Chris Paul | Warriors |
| LeBron James | Lakers |
| Mike Conley | Timberwolves |
| James Harden | 76ers |
| Kevin Durant | Suns |
James Harden scandal
Just recently, on October 25, 2023, James Harden returned to the 76ers after being away for 10 days citing a personal matter. According to reports, Harden was initially expected to travel with the team to Milwaukee for their season opener. However, further reports revealed that he would stay in Philadelphia and continue his ramp-up. During the day of the game, reports stated that the NBA are investigating the situation to ensure that the 76ers had a valid reason to sit out a healthy star.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass spoke about the issue saying:
We’re looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation.”