As we describe in a Hoops Rumors glossary entryThe NBA’s player participation policy, introduced in 2023, is designed to reduce the number of times teams rest healthy players during the regular season.
The player participation policy focuses almost exclusively on players who are considered “stars” and includes rules that prohibit those stars from sitting out NBA Cup games or nationally televised games without a valid reason (including a legitimate injury).
A team may also violate the policy if it rests more than one star in the same game, repeatedly rests a star in away games instead of at home, or shuts down a star for an extended period of time. A club that violates the policy typically faces fines starting at $100,000 for the first violation.
For policy purposes, the league defines a “star” as a player who has been named to an All-Star or All-NBA team at least once in the past three seasons. This means that a player who earns an All-Star or All-NBA berth in 2024, 2025 and/or 2026 will be considered an “All-Star” for the 2026/27 season and subject to player participation policy restrictions.
Here is the full list of players who currently meet that criteria:
- Jalen Johnson (Hawks)
- Pavel George (Celtics) *
- Jason Tatum (Celtics)
- Julius Randle (networks)
- Norman Powell (bulls)
- James Harden (Cavaliers) *
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Kyrie Irving (mavericks)
- Nikola Jokic (nuggets)
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
- Cade Cunningham (pistons)
- Jalen Duren (pistons)
- Stephen Curry (Warriors) *
- Kevin Durant (Rockets) *
- Alperen Sengun (rockets)
- Tyrese Halliburton (pacers)
- Pascal Siakam (pacers)
- Darius Garland (clippers)
- Brandon Ingram (clippers)
- Luka Doncic (lakers)
- Bam Adebayo (heat)
- Janice Antecumba (heat)
- Tyler Herro (Bucks)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
- Jalen Williams (Thunder)
- Paolo Bunchera (magic)
- Jaylen Brown (sixers)
- Joel Embiid (sixers)
- LeBron James (Sixers) *
- Tyrese Maxey (sixers)
- Devin Booker (the sun)
- Danny Audio (Trail Blazers)
- Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) *
- Damantas Sabonis (kings)
- De’Aaron Fox (Spurs)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
- Scotty Barnes (Predators)
- Kawhi Leonard (Raptors) *
- Jaren Jackson Jr (jazz)
- Anthony Davis (Wizards)
- Trey Young (Wizards)
Note: Players marked with an asterisk
they were 35 years old at the time of the opener, or have accumulated more than 34,000 career regular season and playoff minutes or 1,000 career regular season and playoff games, making them eligible for pre-approved rest during back-to-back sets. A player may also qualify for pre-approved nights off during bouts due to their injury history.
A total of 15 teams have multiple players considered “stars” under the 2026/27 player involvement policy, including the 76ers, who have four major league players affected. Only three clubs – the Hornets, Grizzlies and Pelicans – do not have a single player who qualifies as a “star,” as defined by the policy.
That group of players could expand after the 2027 All-Star Game. A player’s name that is not one of the 46 currently listed will be added if he is selected as an All-Star this season. He will be subject to player participation policy restrictions after All-Star weekend.
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