The NBA informed the New Orleans Pelicans that they could be fined $100K per game for resting Anthony Davis, citing a 2017 rule that prevents teams from sitting healthy players.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the NBA was planning to fine the Pelicans $100,000 per game they sat Davis. With 27 games left in the season, that would have been $2.7 million in fines.
Here's the very latest on the whole "should the Pelicans sit Anthony Davis the rest of the season to protect his trade value" issue, with @WindhorstESPN reporting that the NBA got involved & warned the Pels they'd risk a $100,000 fine PER GAME if they held a healthy AD out. pic.twitter.com/UxBA81TEm5
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 8, 2019
There were rumors that Pelicans would hold Davis out for their remaining 27 games after he requested a trade in order to prevent injury and preserve his value. .
Davis returned last night, scoring 32 points in 25 minutes.
“That was definitely awkward. Boo? OK. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to go out there and play basketball. I was [surprised]. But hey, that’s life, man. Some people are not gonna like me. I’m just happy to be back on the floor playing the game that I love,” said Davis after the game.
Davis, though, had little to say about missing the fourth quarter after the game.
“I just go out there and play,” Davis told ESPN after the game. “Whenever I’m called upon to play basketball to go out there and help, that’s what I do.”
He still had a tremendous offensive night, however, dropping 32 points while shooting 11-of-15 from the field. He also added nine rebounds, and went 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
“My teammates came to me and said they wanted me to play. I just love being back on the floor …”
—Anthony Davis after returning to the court for the first time since demanding a trade pic.twitter.com/dGusx0d4PZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 9, 2019
“It just felt good to be back on the floor, playing the game that I love, coming out trying to help the team win,” Davis told ESPN after the game. “My teammates came to me and said they wanted me to play. I just love being back on the floor.”
The NBA is better with AD on the floor.
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