The NBA has handed down two significant fines this week, signaling a firm stance on its Player Participation Policy and the broader issue of competitive integrity. The Indiana Pacers were fined $100,000, while the Utah Jazz were hit with a much steeper $500,000 penalty - both for actions the league says undermine the spirit of competition.
Let’s break down what happened and why it matters.
Pacers Fined for Violating Player Participation Policy
The Pacers’ fine stems from a Feb. 3 matchup against the Utah Jazz, when Indiana held out Pascal Siakam and two other starters. According to the league, those players were medically cleared to play under the NBA’s policy standards. The league also noted that the Pacers could have managed their roster decisions in a way that better aligned with the policy - perhaps by staggering rest days or choosing a different game to sit players.
This policy, introduced ahead of the 2023-24 season, was designed to curb excessive load management, especially when it comes to star players. It applies to anyone who’s made an All-Star or All-NBA team in the previous three seasons - a group that includes Siakam.
In this case, the NBA reviewed medical records, spoke with team personnel, and weighed factors like injury history, scheduling, and standings before issuing the fine. While Siakam has only missed four games this season, the Feb. 3 absence - the second night of a back-to-back - was deemed non-compliant.
Interestingly, the Pacers have rested Siakam and other starters in second games of back-to-backs before - on Nov. 9, Jan. 17, and Feb. 11 - without penalty. Why Feb. 3 was different remains unclear, but the league clearly felt it crossed a line.
This is Indiana’s first violation under the policy, which means a $100,000 fine. But the stakes go up quickly from here: $250,000 for a second offense, $1.25 million for a third, and another $1 million for each additional violation.
Jazz Fined for “Conduct Detrimental to the League”
The Utah Jazz received a much heavier fine - $500,000 - for what the league called “conduct detrimental to the NBA.” The issue? Sitting key players during critical moments of games.
During matchups against the Orlando Magic on Feb. 7 and the Miami Heat on Feb. 9, the Jazz pulled Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the fourth quarter. The league determined both players were available to return, and the games were still very much in the balance. That decision raised red flags.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver didn’t mince words, calling out the broader issue of teams prioritizing draft position over winning - commonly known as tanking.
“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.”
Silver also noted that the league is working with the Competition Committee and Board of Governors to explore additional measures to prevent this kind of conduct.
The Bigger Picture: Draft Odds and Roster Strategy
The Pacers’ situation is particularly interesting when you consider their current position in the standings. After losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals, Indiana stumbled out of the gate this season. They dropped 13 of their first 14 games, including a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak, and went into the All-Star break at 15-40 - fourth-worst in the league.
That spot matters. The bottom three teams each have a 52.1% chance at a top-four pick and a 14% shot at landing the No. 1 overall selection.
The fourth-worst team? Slightly lower odds at 48.1% and 12.5%.
And here’s the kicker: if the Pacers end up with a pick between No. 5 and No. 9, it goes to the Clippers due to the Ivica Zubac trade. But if they land in the top four, they keep the pick - and instead send an unprotected 2031 first-rounder to L.A.
That kind of draft positioning creates real incentives, and the league knows it. That’s why the NBA is cracking down - not just on resting stars, but on any behavior that suggests a team isn’t putting its best foot forward to win.
What Comes Next
The message from the league office is loud and clear: competitive integrity is non-negotiable. Whether it’s sitting stars on back-to-backs or pulling key players in crunch time, teams are now on notice. The fines are steep, and the league is willing to go further if necessary.
For the Pacers and Jazz - and every other team watching - the line between smart roster management and violating league policy is thinner than ever. And with draft picks, playoff seeding, and millions of dollars on the line, how teams navigate that line could define their seasons.