NBA legend Allen Iverson has never been one to mince words. So when the topic of load management in today’s league came up, he kept it honest, offering a blunt solution that has the basketball world talking. His take on modern stars resting during the season cuts straight to the heart of a debate that divides fans, players, and front offices.
Why Does Allen Iverson Think Players Should Skip Practice, Not Games?
Load management has become a growing concern across the league, with many stars strategically skipping games to avoid potential injury or reduce strain on their bodies. This often happens on back-to-back nights or after a demanding stretch of the schedule. However, Iverson’s perspective is rooted in an entirely different philosophy.
Although Iverson never won an NBA championship, many in the basketball community regard him as one of the greatest guards in the game’s history. He retired after the 2009-2010 season, but his impact as a trendsetter is still felt today, with countless players attempting to imitate his fearless style.
Over his career, he averaged 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game and is best known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, a team he famously carried to the 2001 NBA Finals.
A core part of Iverson’s mentality was his belief that practice was less important than actual games. Despite playing in over 80 games in multiple seasons, Iverson was known for avoiding practice whenever possible, a choice that sometimes created friction with his coaches. That history provides context for his recent comments, where he argued that today’s stars should be more willing to skip practice than miss games.
“Can you imagine somebody telling me, ‘We’re going to rest you tonight.’ What do you mean, rest me? It’s a game… You want to bring up the word practice? Sh**, rest me tomorrow at practice. Don’t rest me when we got a game.”
Allen Iverson on load management:
“Can you imagine somebody telling me, ‘We’re going to rest you tonight.’ What do you mean, rest me? It’s a game… You want to bring up the word practice? Sh**, rest me tomorrow at practice. Don’t rest me when we got a game.”
(via… pic.twitter.com/K1JO1Eenuo
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 11, 2025
For many current players, intense practice sessions are essential to developing skills and dominating at the highest level. If those sessions contribute to players being too worn out for regular-season games, it highlights a problem the league continues to grapple with. While veterans in the final stages of their careers, like LeBron James, are often given more leeway to skip games, the league has tried to address the broader issue.
To curb load management, the NBA recently implemented a rule requiring players to participate in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for specific awards and contract extensions. That rule had a noticeable impact on reducing load management last season. Still, several stars skipped games to ensure they were healthy before rejoining their teams.
As the conversation continues, Iverson’s unfiltered stance is a powerful reminder of a different era’s mindset. His opinion might encourage a few players to rethink their approach to rest heading into the upcoming 2025-2026 NBA season.