As the NBA monitors player participation to try and limit load management, the league created the NBA Cup last year as a way to create more incentives earlier in the year.
So when a star like Trae Young misses an NBA Cup game, the league scrutinizes the situation even more. That resulted in a fine for the Hawks.
On Tuesday, the NBA announced that the league fined Atlanta $100,000 for determining that the team unnecessarily held Young out of a game earlier in the year. Atlanta won the NBA Cup contest against the Celtics despite being shorthanded.
The Sporting News examines why the NBA fined the Hawks for Young's absence against Boston on Nov. 12.
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Why NBA fined Hawks for Trae Young's missed NBA Cup game
The NBA had an independent physician investigate Young's absence from the Hawks' game against the Celtics on Nov. 12, and it was determined that the point guard was healthy enough to have played. Therefore, the NBA chose to fine Atlanta $100,000 for violating the league's player participation policy.
"Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played in under the medical standard in the policy," the league announced Tuesday. "The organization's conduct violated the policy, which is intended to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season."
Prior to that game in Boston, the Hawks ruled Young out with right Achilles tendinitis. The 26-year-old point guard was one of six players who missed the game with an injury.
An @emoryhealthcare injury report for tomorrow's game at Boston:
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 11, 2024
Bogdan Bogdanovic (right hamstring tendinopathy): Out
Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder subluxation): Out
De’Andre Hunter (personal family reasons): Out
Vit Krejci (right adductor strain): Out
Trae Young (right Achilles… pic.twitter.com/zba8VaWlT5
Young returned three days later when Atlanta played the Wizards, missing just one game with the reported injury.
Is Trae Young injured?
The Hawks ruled Young out for the Nov. 12 game against the Celtics with right Achilles tendinitis. But so far, that is the only game that Young has missed this season.
Of the Hawks' 18 games to begin the season, Young has played in 17, and he has logged at least 35 minutes in 13 games.
Therefore, if Young was in fact injured, it doesn't seem like the injury is still an issue. Young has played in each of the last six games for the Hawks, with his lowest minutes count over that stretch being 30:20. On the year, Young is averaging 36 minutes per game, which would tie last year's average for most minutes per game in his career.
