The NBA is investigating the Oklahoma City Thunder for sitting 10 players out due to injury for their nationally televised matchup with the San Antonio Spurs last week, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
Since 2023, NBA rules dictate that teams ensure star players are available for nationally televised and in-season tournament games that presumably attract more fan interest. The league defines a “star player” as one who has been named to an All-Star or All-NBA team during the past three seasons.
The Feb. 4 Thunder-Spurs game was televised on ESPN. The players listed as out for Oklahoma City that night:
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Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain)
Chet Holmgren (low back spasms)
Alex Caruso (right adductor strain)
Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain)
Lugentz Dort (right patellofemoral joint, inflammation)
Isaiah Hartenstein (right eye, corneal abrasion)
Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain)
Nikola Topić (surgical recovery)
Ousmane Dieng (not with team)
Thomas Sorber (right ACL, surgical recovery)
The Thunder dressed eight players in a 116-108 loss to the Spurs. Three Oklahoma City players scored 20 or more points, led by 25 from Kenrich Williams.
Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA MVP, All-NBA first team, All-Star) and Jalen Williams (All-NBA third team, All-Star) fit the “star player” definition. Holmgren was named to his first NBA All-Star team this season.
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Williams has appeared in only 24 games this season, while Hartenstein (28) and Caruso (34) have also played fewer than 35.
Additionally, sitting out so many players — including stars — against San Antonio, which currently has the NBA’s second-best record at 36-16 could be viewed as “affecting the integrity of the game,” something the league also factors into its rules regarding player absences. (Oklahoma City is 1-4 versus the Spurs in their five matchups this season and are not scheduled to play again during the regular season.)
The Thunder face possible fines if the team is deemed to have committed violations of league rules. Penalties include a $100,000 fine for a first violation, $250,000 for the second violation and an increase by $1 million for each subsequent violation.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell, Sorber and Topić are listed as out for Monday’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder have announced that Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined through the All-Star break with his abdominal injury. He last played on Feb. 3 versus the Orlando Magic.
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Despite those injuries and absences, the Thunder still lead the NBA with a 40-13 record. They are 5-5 in their past 10 games.
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