The Brooklyn Nets were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Friday for violating the league’s new Player Participation Policy, created to help ensure top players compete in big games.
The league said the Nets ran afoul of the new rule, introduced this season, in a December 27 home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
After an investigation that included a review by an independent physician, the NBA determined four Nets rotation players who did not participate in the contest could have played under the policy’s medical standard.
The Nets lost to Milwaukee 144-122 in the game, the start of a current five-game losing streak that has dropped Brooklyn to ninth in the Eastern Conference at 15-20.
NBA team owners approved the policy last September to limit “load management” resting of players during the 82-game campaign, with a focus on star players being rested by coaches in nationally televised contests.
The policy has exceptions for injuries and personal reasons and pre-approved issues.
