If you happen to notice teams spending less time than usual on all of their pregame jazz this season, understand that it's by design.
According to a new rule, teams will have 90 seconds from the time pregame introductions end to return to the court and be ready for the game's opening tip.
So pregame powder-throwing, move-busting, chest-bumping, fist-pumping and whatever else it is that players do nowadays will have to stay within a strict limit, or else the party is starting without them. In the end, all of this might not amount to much time saved, but count Kevin Durant among those not too thrilled about the new rule.
"I personally don't like it," Durant said, according to The Oklahoman. "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."
Durant's Thunder tend to spend a long time taking care of business before games, so obviously he's going to be among the players impacted by the new rule. Durant understands, however, that he'll just have to make adjustments.
"Maybe I've got to go a little quicker," Durant reportedly said. "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."
For fans, this means a few less seconds to gather the game-time spread. Plan accordingly.
