The NBA sent a clear message this week: manipulating rosters in ways that compromise the spirit of competition won’t fly - no matter where a team sits in the standings.
The Utah Jazz were hit with a massive $500,000 fine, one of the largest penalties the league has ever handed down, for what the NBA deemed “conduct detrimental to the league.” The issue? How the Jazz managed their top players - notably Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. - during a pair of early February games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
In both matchups, Markkanen and Jackson were pulled before the fourth quarter and never returned. Against Orlando on Feb.
7, Utah entered the final frame up seven points but ended up losing 120-117. Two nights later in Miami, the Jazz held a three-point lead going into the fourth but managed to hold on for a 115-111 win - again, without their stars finishing the game.
The league reviewed the situation and clearly didn’t like what it saw. The implication: Utah’s decision to sideline key players in competitive games wasn’t about load management or health - it was about something else entirely. And that “something else” - potentially improving draft lottery odds - is exactly what the NBA is trying to crack down on.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers were fined $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy during their Feb. 3 game - ironically, also against the Jazz. The NBA’s investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other starters sat out despite being medically cleared to play. According to the league, Indiana could’ve chosen to rest those players in other games that would’ve aligned with the policy.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver didn’t mince words in his statement. “Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition,” Silver said.
“We will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.” He also noted that the league is working with its Competition Committee and Board of Governors to introduce additional measures to prevent this kind of conduct going forward.
Let’s be real - both teams are deep in the lottery mix. The Jazz, at 18-37, sit third-worst in the Western Conference, while the Pacers, at 15-40, are second-worst in the East.
Neither team is sniffing the playoffs at this point. But the league’s current lottery system gives each of the three worst teams a 14% shot at the No. 1 overall pick - a tempting incentive for franchises looking to rebuild.
As of now, Indiana holds the fourth-worst record in the league, with Utah just behind at sixth-worst.
But here’s the thing: the league has worked hard to discourage blatant tanking, especially since revamping the lottery odds to level the playing field among the bottom teams. The message from Silver and the league office is clear - if you’re going to rest players, there better be a legitimate reason, and competitive integrity still matters, even in February.
This isn’t just about fines or public statements. It’s about preserving the trust of fans, who deserve to see teams compete night in and night out. And for the players who suit up - whether they’re superstars or role players - it’s about maintaining the respect that comes with playing the game the right way.
The NBA knows what’s at stake. And based on these fines, they’re not afraid to step in when the line gets crossed.