Resting Players Are No 'Slam Dunk' For NBA

It's commonplace in the cricket and AFL arenas, but it's an issue that's divided the NBA.

Rest.

Yes, the time players spend off the court is dominating the conversation off it too.

The issue reared its head when Golden State sat out its biggest stars from a key showdown with San Antonio earlier this month.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green didn't dress.

Days later arch rivals Cleveland assigned LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to arena seating for a game against the Clippers.

So what gives?

While it's no biggie for other sports, the NBA can't decide whether it's OK to be resting some of the league's biggest stars down the stretch of an 82-game season.

Some fans say the health and welfare of teams and the players should come first, even if that means shortening the season.

"I think even just going down to 75 games," says Golden State coach Steve Kerr.

"I think that would make a dramatic difference in schedule. Now I don't see that happening because there is money at stake for everybody.”

That money is a cool $24 billion dollar nine-year broadcast deal that was recently struck with ESPN.

The NBA isn't resting (pun intended) on its laurels, with Commissioner Adam Silver sending out a memo calling it a "significant issue."

The Commish even suggests resting players will "impact our reputation and damage the perception of our game."

Superstar LeBron James says it only became an issue when he took a game off.

"I don't understand why it's become a problem now," he said. "Because I started to sit out a couple of games?"