The NBA has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for actions that prioritized draft position over winning. The penalties stem from the teams resting key players during recent matchups, amid ongoing concerns about tanking. Commissioner Adam Silver stated the league will implement further measures to address such conduct.
The NBA announced the fines on Thursday, targeting roster management decisions by the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers. The Jazz were penalized $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league after head coach Will Hardy removed Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the fourth quarter in games against the Orlando Magic on February 7 and the Miami Heat on February 9. Utah held a seven-point lead entering the final period against Orlando but lost 120-117, while they won 115-111 over Miami despite a three-point advantage at the start of the fourth.
The Pacers received a $100,000 fine for violating the Player Participation Policy in their February 3 loss to the Jazz. An investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other starters could have participated, even with reduced minutes, under the policy's medical standards. The policy, introduced in 2023, aims to discourage intentional losses to improve draft lottery chances.
"Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct."
As of Thursday, the Jazz stood at 18-37, third-worst in the Western Conference, and the Pacers at 15-40, second-worst in the East. Both teams are out of playoff contention and focused on the draft lottery, where the three worst teams have a 14% chance at the top pick. Utah owes its 2026 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls outside the top eight this year.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith expressed disagreement on social media, posting, "Agree to disagree. Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense." Hardy defended benching Markkanen due to a minutes restriction set by the medical team. Jackson is scheduled for knee surgery to remove a benign growth and will likely miss the rest of the season. The Jazz were previously fined $100,000 last season for resting Markkanen in multiple games.
The fines come ahead of All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, California, as the league grapples with tanking incentives in a strong upcoming draft class.
