Kevin Love Breaks Right Hand: What Does This Mean For The Minnesota Timberwolves?

Kevin Love Breaks Right Hand: What Does This Mean For The Minnesota Timberwolves? by Chris Walder

The NBA has suddenly decided to put an emphasis on all handshakes and team rituals that take place before games as if it were an important issue.

Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

As per the league, teams will now have only 90 seconds to return to the court after the player introductions.

During Tuesday night’s preseason game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Bobcats, Thunder players noticeably hurried their routines before tipoff.

In fact, Kevin Durant was still in the process of greeting his teammates while the ball was put in to play.

When asked about the new ruling after the game, Durant was not very thrilled with the idea.

“I personally don’t like it. Every player in this league has routines they do with their teammates, rituals they do before the game and before they walk on the floor. The fans like it. The fans enjoy it. You see the fans mimicking the guys who do their stuff before the game. To cut that down really don’t make no sense. Why would you do it? I really don’t agree with it, but I don’t make the rules.”

“Maybe I’ve got to go a little quicker. “I’ve got to make sure I acknowledge all my teammates before I walk out on the floor. That’s just how I am. That’s how we are as a team, guys do their thing, their handshakes. I do the tying (of) the shoes, the praying. I’ve just got to speed it up.”

One of the main reasons this rule came to be was because players regularly kept officials waiting before games because of their rituals.

So what?

If they were to take 3-5 minutes, then I can understand the complaints. Games have to start on time every single night and I understand that.

That’s not the case here though. These rituals aren’t a detriment to anything or anyone.

Perhaps the Thunders is a tad long, but ultimately it shouldn’t matter. 90 seconds is still quite a bit of time, so this new ruling will have little to no effect on the majority of the league.

However, this is just another prime example of the NBA trying to suck the fun and personality out of its players.

It makes absolutely no sense.

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports