Inside The Heat

Brooklyn Nets Resting Five Players  Reminiscent Of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili Against Miami Heat in 2012

Ten years ago, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was fined for resting three starters in a nationally-televised game against the Heat
Shandel Richardson|
Brooklyn Nets Resting Five Players  Reminiscent Of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili Against Miami Heat in 2012
Brooklyn Nets Resting Five Players  Reminiscent Of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili Against Miami Heat in 2012

In this story:

Miami HeatSan Antonio SpursBrooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are resting five players for tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers, including All-Star starters Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

If you're a Miami Heat fan, this should sound awfully familiar. It brings memories of San Antonio Spurs sitting Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for a marquee game against the Heat in 2012. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went far as sending the trio home to San Antonio after their game the previous night in Orlando. 

"It's the best thing for our team," Popovich said the night before the game. 

Because of the magnitude of the nationally-televised game, it upset fans and league personnel. At the time, the Heat and Spurs were the two best teams and featured star power such as LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. 

It was so bad then-league commissioner released a statement. 

"I apologize to all NBA fans," Stern said in a statement. "This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

Popovich was eventually fined $250,000 for the decision. The Nets, who are without a total of eight players tonight against the Pacers, will unlikely receiving any punishment because it's now common practice for teams to rest players. 

Fittingly, the Heat face the Spurs tonight in Miami. 

MORE HEAT-RELATED STORIES

Bam Adebayo comfortable with Jimmy Butler as the closer. CLICK HERE

Caleb Martin becoming a complete player. CLICK HERE

Erik Spoelstra responds to Charles Barkley. CLICK HERE

For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE

If you wanna bet on any games at @PrizePicks or PrizePicks.com, use our link and code. They will match your first bet for up to $100. Here's the code: PR-R1YOFY6

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com

Published
Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Home/News