LeBron: NBA only has problem with rest when I sit

LeBron James says there's a double standard when it comes to teams resting players.

Managing the workloads of healthy players is nothing new - it happens every season as teams look to stay fresh ahead of a playoff run. But it became a bigger problem this season since the Cavaliers and Warriors both rested their stars during nationally televised games.

Commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo to team owners Monday, warning that "significant penalties" would be handed down to combat the "extremely significant issue."

James sees through the hand wringing, saying that there isn't any issue when the San Antonio Spurs rest their players.

"Adam is great. Adam is fantastic. I love what Adam is doing for our league ... But I don't understand why it has become a problem now because I started to sit out a couple of games," James said.

"It is the case. It's absolutely the case," James said when a reporter tried to rebut. "Come on man, you guys know the real. Listen (Gregg Popovich) been doing this for 10 years, 12 years, 15 years. Everybody was like, 'You know what, that's the smartest thing Pop has ever done.'"

"But some of the other coaches in our league don't have the stature that Pop has, our head coach doesn't have it, so he gets killed for it. I gotta keep winning to help my coach be able to have a reason (to) sit his players."

Popovich has seen his fair share of fines for resting players, but James' larger point is accurate. Nobody bats an eye when LaMarcus Aldridge sits a game. Even holding out an MVP candidate like Kawhi Leonard hardly whips up any scorn.

But when it comes to James? It's suddenly the biggest headline everywhere.