On Thursday, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz and the Indiana Pacers for violating its player participation policy, citing \u201cconduct detrimental to the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
The league fined the Jazz $500,000 and the Pacers $100,000 for perceived attempts to tank and lose intentionally<\/a> to improve their draft lottery odds.<\/p>\n NBA commissioner Adam Silver also said in a press release that the league is seeking \u201cto implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n While the fines are significant, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins doesn\u2019t think they went anywhere near high enough.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish Adam Silver would\u2019ve fined them $5M for disrespecting the game of basketball. Let\u2019s stop being nice about it and throwing out the word \u2018tanking.\u2019 No, it\u2019s actually throwing games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014@KendrickPerkins<\/a> weighs in on the Jazz and Pacers being fined for sitting healthy players\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/GoTP7vfQO2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI wish Adam Silver would find them $5 million for disrespecting the game of basketball. Let\u2019s stop being nice about it and throwing out the word \u2018tanking.\u2019 No, it\u2019s actually throwing games. You\u2019re trying to throw games to lose games. Think about that for a second. In one of the best sports in the world, in a competitive sport, you\u2019re teaching to try to lose games.<\/p>\n \u201cI would have fined their ass more for messing up because as a competitor\u2026 You mean to tell me you go walk in the locker room after all you\u2019ve been through to get to the NBA and be okay with going out there and saying, \u2018I\u2019m trying to lose a game while you\u2019re on the floor?’\u201d<\/p>\n In a recent game against the Orlando Magic, the Jazz led 94-87 heading into the fourth quarter, but held out several starters for the rest of the game. They eventually lost, 120-117.<\/p>\n Two nights later, the Jazz had an 85-82 lead over the Miami Heat into the fourth quarter and once again sat several of their top players, though they ended up winning 115-111.<\/p>\n Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith\u00a0responded to the fine in an X post<\/a>, saying, \u201cAgree to disagree \u2026 Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense \u2026\u201d He also included an eye-roll emoji.<\/p>\n \t