NBA Cracks Down on Tanking: Jazz, Pacers Fined as Adam Silver Sends a Message
The NBA is drawing a hard line on tanking - and the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers just found themselves in the league’s crosshairs.
Commissioner Adam Silver used his All-Star Media Day platform to address the league’s recent disciplinary action, after Utah was hit with a $500,000 fine and Indiana with a $100,000 penalty for what the league deemed “conduct detrimental to the league.” The message? Deliberately sitting key players to manipulate draft odds won’t fly - not anymore.
“There is talk about every possible remedy now to stop this behavior,” Silver said, making it clear that the league is considering stronger deterrents, including the potential loss of future draft picks. That’s a significant escalation, and it signals the league’s growing frustration with teams that appear to prioritize lottery positioning over competition.
What Triggered the Fines?
"There is talk about every possible remedy now to stop this behavior."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the possibility of stripping teams of draft picks instead of issuing fines 🗣️pic.twitter.com/q9f45Xj0rd
The Jazz and Pacers crossed the line in the eyes of the league, and the specific incidents that drew attention weren’t subtle.
"We won the game in Miami and got fined?"
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 13, 2026
Jazz governor Ryan Smith responds to his team's $500,000 fine by the NBA 👀 https://t.co/7YvIhAtcAl pic.twitter.com/x7vqrOMUGE
Utah benched Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. during the fourth quarters of two tightly contested games - a 120-117 loss to the Orlando Magic and a 115-111 win over the Miami Heat. In both cases, those absences raised eyebrows.
These aren’t end-of-the-bench guys; they’re cornerstone players. And in close games, sitting your stars sends a message - one the league didn’t appreciate.
Indiana’s situation was similar. In a 131-122 win, the Pacers pulled Pascal Siakam in the fourth quarter, despite the game still being competitive. Whether the move was strategic rest or something more calculated, the league clearly saw it as part of a pattern it wants to eliminate.
Silver’s Warning: This Isn’t Just About Utah and Indiana
While the Jazz and Pacers are the ones feeling the sting of the fines, Silver made it clear this is about setting a precedent. These two teams are now examples - case studies for what can happen if a franchise is perceived to be manipulating outcomes to boost its draft positioning.
The league’s concern isn’t new. Tanking has long been a shadow over the NBA’s competitive integrity, especially late in the season when lottery odds loom large. But this year, Silver and the league office are signaling that even subtle attempts to game the system won’t go unnoticed.
And the consequences may not stop at financial penalties. The mention of potentially stripping draft picks - the very assets teams tank to acquire - adds real teeth to the league’s stance. That kind of punishment would hit franchises where it hurts most: their long-term roster-building strategy.
Jazz Owner Pushes Back
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith didn’t take the fine quietly. He fired off a response on social media, questioning the logic behind penalizing a team that, in one of the cited games, actually won.
“Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …” Smith posted.
It’s a fair question on the surface - if the team wins, how can it be accused of not trying? But the league’s focus is less about the result and more about the intent and optics.
Sitting star players in crunch time, especially in close games, sends a message about priorities. And the NBA is clearly trying to shift that message league-wide.
Still, Smith’s frustration is understandable. His team pulled off a win against a quality opponent, and instead of praise, they got slapped with a half-million-dollar fine. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially with the All-Star break looming and the Jazz having dropped three of their last five.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about two teams. It’s about the NBA trying to protect the integrity of its product.
Fans pay to see stars compete. Players want to win.
And the league wants to ensure every game - especially down the stretch - is played with real stakes and effort.
Tanking has always been a tricky issue. There’s a difference between rebuilding and intentionally losing. But when teams start pulling their best players in tight games, it becomes harder to argue that the focus is on development or rest.
With these fines, the NBA is drawing a line in the sand. And with the threat of lost draft picks on the table, that line just got a whole lot bolder.