The NBA is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons - this time, it’s tanking accusations that have the league office handing out fines and former players calling for even harsher penalties.
The Utah Jazz found themselves in hot water after resting two key players - Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. - in back-to-back games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Both players were reportedly healthy, and the NBA didn’t take kindly to what it saw as a violation of its player participation policy.
The result? A $500,000 fine.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy defended the decision, but the league wasn’t buying it - and neither was Kendrick Perkins.
Perkins, never one to hold back, took to ESPN’s NBA Today to voice his frustration. “I wish Adam Silver would’ve fined them $5 million for disrespecting the game of basketball,” Perkins said.
“Let’s stop being nice about it and throwing out the word ‘tanking.’ No, it’s actually throwing games.”
That’s a bold statement, but it underscores a growing concern around the league. The NBA has tried to crack down on teams resting healthy stars - especially in nationally televised games - to preserve the integrity of competition and maintain fan trust. But when teams like the Jazz sit key contributors without clear injury designations, it raises eyebrows and questions about the league’s ability to enforce its policies consistently.
Perkins’ comments reflect a sentiment shared by many fans and analysts: if the league wants to clean this up, it may need to hit harder. A half-million-dollar fine might sting, but for a franchise, it’s not exactly a deterrent.
A $5 million penalty? That might get some attention.
While the Jazz are catching heat, Perkins also took time to spotlight a team that’s doing things the right way - the San Antonio Spurs. According to him, they’re not just playing hard, they’re playing the right way. And at the center of it all is Victor Wembanyama, who Perkins says has already claimed the title of the NBA’s next face.
“You think about what the Spurs are doing right now - they check all the boxes,” Perkins said. “They are playing at an elite level… We didn’t give Adam Silver and the NBA a congratulations today.
They actually found their new face of the NBA. Yeah, Victor Wembanyama.”
That’s high praise, but it’s not unwarranted. Wembanyama has been everything the Spurs hoped for and more - a generational talent who’s not only producing on the court but embracing the spotlight off it.
Perkins even threw down a challenge for anyone who disagrees. “If anybody wants to argue with me, we could argue for hours or days, but you’re going to lose this argument.”
It’s clear that Wembanyama isn’t just a rising star - he’s becoming the star. And in a league that’s always looking for its next global icon, the Spurs’ young phenom might just be the answer.
So while the Jazz are facing scrutiny for how they manage their roster, the Spurs are earning applause for how they’re building theirs. And as the league continues its push for transparency and competitive integrity, the contrast between these two approaches couldn’t be more clear.
The message from the league office is simple: sit healthy stars, and there will be consequences. But if Kendrick Perkins has his way, those consequences could get a whole lot steeper.