As we outline in a Hoops Rumors glossary entry, the NBA’s player participation policy – instituted in 2023 – is designed to reduce instances of teams resting healthy players during the regular season.
The player participation policy is focused almost exclusively on players considered “stars” and includes rules prohibiting those stars from sitting out NBA Cup games or nationally televised games without an approved reason (including a legitimate injury).
A team can also run afoul of the policy if it rests more than one star in the same game, repeatedly rests a star in road games instead of home games, or shuts down a star for an extended period of time. The Cavaliers were hit with a fine on Tuesday for violating the policy on November 12, when they rested two stars – Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley – in the same game.
For the purposes of the policy, the league defines a “star” as a player who has been named to an All-Star or All-NBA team at least once during the prior three seasons, which is why both Mitchell and Mobley qualified.
A player who earned an All-Star or All-NBA berth in 2023, 2024, and/or 2025 would be considered a “star” during the 2025/26 season and would be subject to the restrictions of the player participation policy.
Here’s the full list of the players who meet that criteria:
- Trae Young (Hawks)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers)
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Anthony Davis (Mavericks)
- Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Jimmy Butler (Warriors) *
- Stephen Curry (Warriors) *
- Kevin Durant (Rockets) *
- Alperen Sengun (Rockets)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
- Pascal Siakam (Pacers)
- James Harden (Clippers) *
- Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)
- Luka Doncic (Lakers)
- LeBron James (Lakers) *
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
- Bam Adebayo (Heat)
- Tyler Herro (Heat)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Julius Randle (Timberwolves)
- Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Jalen Williams (Thunder)
- Paolo Banchero (Magic)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- Paul George (Sixers) *
- Tyrese Maxey (Sixers)
- Devin Booker (Suns)
- Jrue Holiday (Trail Blazers) *
- Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) *
- DeMar DeRozan (Kings) *
- Domantas Sabonis (Kings)
- De’Aaron Fox (Spurs)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)
Note: The players marked with an asterisk (*) were either 35 years old on opening night or have accumulated 34,000+ career regular minutes or 1,000 career regular season and playoff games, making them eligible for pre-approved rest nights during back-to-back sets.
A total of 17 teams have multiple players considered “stars” for the purposes of the player participation policy in 2025/26, while just four clubs (the Nets, Hornets, Bulls, and Wizards) don’t have a single player affected.
This group of players could grow following the 2026 All-Star Game. A player who isn’t one of 45 currently listed above would have his name added if he’s selected as an All-Star this season. He would be subject to player participation policy restrictions for games played after All-Star weekend.
Terrible.