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Kendrick Perkins has pointed to Gregg Popovich as the original influence behind the NBA’s controversial 65-game rule, linking it directly to the rise of load management.
The comment reframes a league-wide policy as something rooted in long-term coaching philosophy. It also shifts the debate away from current players and toward how the trend began.
That is where Perkins’ argument becomes more pointed.
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Kendrick Perkins links Gregg Popovich to NBA’s 65-game rule origins
Kendrick Perkins laid out his stance during a discussion on The Road Trippin’ Show, where the topic of load management came up.
He argued that the league’s current rule did not appear out of nowhere, but was a response to a trend that started years earlier.
Perkins said, “Why we got a 65-game rule? Go ask the San Antonio Spurs. I love Gregg Popovich, this is not a slight to him, but this facts over feelings.
“He started load management, and it’s the reason this rule is in place.”
The claim centres on how Popovich managed veteran players in San Antonio, prioritising long-term health over regular-season availability.
That approach has since spread across the league, eventually forcing the NBA to respond with stricter participation rules.
Kendrick Perkins says NBA load management decisions hurt fans the most
Perkins also made it clear that the real issue, in his view, is the impact on fans who expect to see star players.
“So if you’re going to be mad at anybody, be mad at the people that sat down and had decisions with that y’all was going to sit out games, especially on the road when fans done paid their hard-earned money,” Perkins added.
The argument highlights the tension between player health strategies and fan expectations.
While load management has become a league-wide practice, the NBA’s 65-game rule is designed to push back against its most extreme forms.
Perkins’ point ultimately places responsibility on the decisions that made rest strategies common, rather than the rule that followed.
Read more:
- Kendrick Perkins compares Kevin Durant to Beyonce after 32,000-point milestone
- Kendrick Perkins claims Kyrie Irving never wanted to be under LeBron James’ wing in Cleveland
- Why Kendrick Perkins wants Adam Silver to slam a $5m fine on Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers
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