“Never Knew Anything About Load Management”: Former Sixers Coach Recalls Charles Barkley Washing His Uniform in Shower to Play Back-to-Back Games

Former Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Lucas lately gave his tackle the fashionable thought of load administration in the NBA. Talking about his personal groups, he claimed that he had no thought what load administration was again when he was a head coach. Lucas mentioned that in his tenure on the Philadelphia 76ers, Charles Barkley himself used to wash his uniform in the bathe as a result of they used to play back-to-back-to-back video games with none relaxation.

The 71-year-old in contrast the state of affairs to what he sees immediately, claiming that gamers immediately have a tendency to ask for 1-day-rests in order to put together themselves for video games which have been nonetheless a couple of days away. Speaking on the Fresh 24 podcast with Marc Zumoff, Lucas outlined the modifications the NBA has seen over time, suggesting that load administration as an idea can be laughed at, again then.

“I inform the fellows on a regular basis, we by no means knew something about load administration. We performed again to again to again. You guys inform me, ‘I received to take a day relaxation’, what are you speaking about?” he mentioned, earlier than mentioning Chuck.

Lucas mentioned that Barkley was solely one of many gamers who would wash his uniform in the bathe after video games. “The guys in my locker room, Charles, he’s a Philly man, Charles was speaking on TV, and Kenny Smith was on with him and didn’t even notice this. He was there that we did used to wash our uniforms in the bathe, as a result of we’d play again to again to again video games,” Lucas claimed, earlier than outlining the extent of variations the NBA has seen since he was a participant.

Lucas himself was a #1 choose in the 1976 NBA draft and claimed that he was making barely greater than 1,000,000 a yr. On the opposite hand, gamers immediately have a tendency to make that a lot proper from the fifteenth choose, he claimed. That, alongside the opposite constructive modifications that the NBA has seen, made Lucas conclude that gamers merely want to give greater than they have a tendency to, these days.

“I mentioned, the commissioner’s received all of this on the ground, Black Lives matter, all of these items happening and also you guys need to depart as a result of we have been down there for 3 months,” he mentioned, speaking about some gamers who needed to depart for dwelling as soon as the NBA Bubble concluded.

John Lucas airs Charles Barkley’s sentiments when it comes to load administration

Lucas was a part of the 1977 NBA All-Rookie first group and began his teaching profession with the Miami Tropics. He then moved to the Philadelphia 76ers after a short stint with the San Antonio Spurs as the top coach.

From 1994-96, Lucas labored with Charles Barkley and appeared to be properly conscious of the altering NBA tradition since then. Chuck had himself claimed lately that he was not a fan of load administration, claiming that gamers who’re match and wholesome sufficient to play ought to merely be taking part in, in accordance to Bleacher Report.

That appears to be precisely what the NBA has additionally sought to do, ranging from this season. A variety of guidelines associated to load administration corresponding to the necessity for a steadiness between dwelling and highway video games missed by star gamers, in addition to long-term shutdowns for star gamers due to load administration to be prevented, have been launched by the league, in accordance to Yahoo.

Furthermore, franchises are additionally not allowed to relaxation two-star gamers in the identical sport. This is for National TV video games, in addition to In-Season event video games, which have been launched this season.