The NBA is getting fed up with some of the most obvious tanking in recent memory.
The league announced Thursday it has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for their roster management in recent games. In the statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver took the rare step of describing both teams’ actions as blatant attempts to improve their draft position by losing:
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
The statement points to specific examples for both teams. The Jazz’s offense was described as “conduct detrimental to the league,” with the NBA noting the franchise removed star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. after the third quarter in a game against the Orlando Magic on Feb. 7 and Miami Heat on Feb. 9.
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No injuries or any other reasons were provided for Markkanen or Jackson’s removal, though Jackson has since been reported to have been on a minutes restriction due to a knee issue that led to surgery. Utah led the Magic 94-87 entering the fourth quarter and led the Heat 85-82 at the same point, at which point the two All-Stars were pulled.
Funnily enough, the Jazz actually won that second game 115-111. The Magic, however, came back to win 120-117 in that first game.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith took exception with the fine in a social-media post: “agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …”
The Pacers, meanwhile, are accused of violating the NBA’s Player Participation Policy in connection to its game against the Jazz on Feb. 3. An NBA investigation that included a review by an independent doctor found that star forward Pascal Siakam and two other starters, all of whom were held out, could have played under the policy’s medical standard.
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Siakam was officially held out due to rest, but the NBA said the Pacers could have held the players out of other games “in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy.” The Jazz “won” the game 131-122.
The fines represent the NBA taking a stance against tanking, though the teams might just see them as the cost of doing business. It’s certainly not like they’re going to be better going forward, as Jackson was ruled out for the season earlier Thursday and Markkanen has missed games on both Tuesday and Thursday due to rest.
Along with the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans (whose unprotected 2026 first-round pick is controlled by the Atlanta Hawks), the Jazz and Pacers are two of five teams with 18 or fewer wins this season. The prize is obvious for whichever team manages to finish the season with the NBA’s worst record: a guaranteed top-five pick in a draft with one of the strongest college freshman classes in the history of basketball.
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Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and UNC’s Caleb Wilson all loom as potential franchise-changers, with plenty more impact talents behind them for teams unlucky in the lottery. Teams have had this draft circled on their calendars for years, and have acted accordingly.
Like the Jazz, the Wizards also have a big man acquired at the trade deadline who might not play again this season in Anthony Davis. The former Mavericks star hasn’t suited up for the team yet due to a finger injury, nor has Trae Young, who was acquired last month and remains out with an MCL injury.