NBA Sees Surge in Players Sitting Out Due to Illness and Injury

With the playoffs approaching, teams are resting stars to manage their bodies.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:02am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball court and players, rendered in bold, overlapping shapes and colors that capture the dynamic energy of the sport.As the NBA regular season winds down, teams are increasingly resting star players to manage their health ahead of the playoffs.New Orleans Today

As the NBA regular season winds down, a record 168 players sat out of games on Friday night due to listed injuries or illnesses. This included recent MVPs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, whose teams faced off against each other. Coaches are citing the need to manage player health and rest stars who have already clinched playoff spots.

Why it matters

The high number of players sitting out raises questions about the NBA's load management policies and whether the league needs to address the growing trend of resting stars, especially as the playoffs approach. It also highlights the physical toll of the long NBA season on players' bodies.

The details

Among the notable players who sat out on Friday were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, the last two NBA MVPs. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said his team's stars 'earned the right to sit' since they had already clinched the top seed in the Western Conference. Other stars like LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama did take the floor, with Wembanyama admitting he would not have played if he had already met the criteria for season awards.

  • The NBA regular season is set to finish on Sunday, April 14, 2026.
  • On Friday, April 11, 2026, 168 total players sat out of action due to injury or illness.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder star and former NBA MVP who sat out Friday's game.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets star and former NBA MVP who sat out Friday's game against Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who said his team's stars 'earned the right to sit' with the playoffs approaching.

LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers star who did take the floor on Friday despite his team's injury woes.

Victor Wembanyama

The young star who needed to play 20 minutes to be eligible for season awards, but admitted he would not have played if he had already met the criteria.

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What they’re saying

“If we didn't clinch [the No. 1 overall seed] coming into tonight, everybody would be playing. We've earned the right through 80 games to manage their bodies and stuff like that.”

— Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder Head Coach

“I would not have played if I had already met the criteria.”

— Victor Wembanyama

What’s next

Jokic must play in the Nuggets' final game on Sunday if he wants to be considered for NBA awards this season.

The takeaway

The high number of star players sitting out due to rest and injury management raises concerns about the NBA's load management policies and the physical toll of the long season on players' bodies as the playoffs approach.