Tanking in the NBA has reached a fever pitch, catching the sharp eye of Commissioner Adam Silver. This season, the Indiana Pacers found themselves in the crosshairs, slapped with a hefty fine for alleged tanking-a decision that didn't sit well with head coach Rick Carlisle.
Despite the NBA's efforts to curb tanking, including flattening the draft lottery odds back in 2019, the practice persists. Teams are still maneuvering to secure top draft picks, though the tactics have evolved. Instead of managing player workloads, teams are now sidelining key contributors with questionable injuries.
The Utah Jazz have become infamous for this approach, benching stars like Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in crucial moments. The league responded with a $500,000 fine, signaling its intolerance for such strategies.
The Pacers faced their own penalty-a $100,000 fine for sitting Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith, deemed fit to play by the league. Unlike the Jazz's silent response, Carlisle didn't hold back, expressing his frustration over the NBA's decision.
“I didn’t agree with it,” Carlisle stated on 107.5 The Fan. He criticized the league's process, highlighting the lack of consultation with the Pacers' medical staff. “There was a league lawyer...who decided that Aaron Nesmith...should have played, which just seems ridiculous.”
Carlisle was particularly irked by the league's refusal to engage with the Pacers' doctors. “We asked if they wanted to talk to our doctors...they said no. They talked to their doctors, who did not examine Aaron Nesmith...it was shocking,” Carlisle exclaimed.
The NBA's crackdown has left teams uneasy, underscoring the need for open dialogue between the league and its franchises. Without it, more misunderstandings seem inevitable. Carlisle's concerns won't reverse the fine, but they highlight a broader issue that the NBA must address.
For the Pacers, injuries have been a harsh reality, yet the NBA chose them as an example. Whether this move instills the fear Silver hopes for remains to be seen.