NBA Fines Utah Jazz $500K and Indiana Pacers $100K for Tanking
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| Jazz and Pacers penalized for prioritizing draft position |
The NBA has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for violating league policies and prioritizing draft position over winning.
“Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that Pascal Siakam...”
The NBA has taken a strong stance against tanking, fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for managing their rosters in a way that prioritizes draft position over winning. The Jazz's fine stems from their games against the Orlando Magic on February 7 and the Miami Heat on February 9, where they removed key players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the fourth quarter, despite the games being in doubt.
The Pacers, on the other hand, were fined for violating the Player Participation Policy in their February 3 game against the Jazz, where star player Pascal Siakam and two other starters sat out despite being medically cleared to play. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized that prioritizing draft position over winning undermines the league's integrity and vowed to take further action against teams that engage in such behavior.
“During those games, the Jazz removed two of the team's top players, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson, Jr., before the beginning of the fourth quarter and did not return them to the game, even though these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt,” the league said in a statement announcing the fines.
The Indiana Pacers were hit with a $100,000 fine for violating the NBA's player participation policy during their February 3 game against the Utah Jazz. The fine was imposed because star player Pascal Siakam and two other starters, who didn't play in the game, could have participated under the policy's medical standard.
The NBA's investigation, which included review by an independent physician, found that the Pacers could have played these players, even if just for reduced minutes, instead of holding them out entirely. This move was seen as prioritizing draft position over winning, which undermines the league's integrity.
“Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that Pascal Siakam, a star player under the policy, and two other Pacers starters, neither of whom participated in the game, could have played under the medical standard in the policy, including by playing reduced minutes,” the league said.
“Alternatively, the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the policy.”
The NBA's draft system, where the worst teams get the best picks, has led to “tanking” - teams giving up on the season to boost their draft position. This means they can land top prospects and potentially change their franchise's future.
The Utah Jazz, sitting 13th in the West and eight games out of the play-in, made a questionable move against Miami. Up by three in the fourth quarter, coach Will Hardy benched his top players, echoing a similar decision against Orlando two days prior.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/0JFQpOnOmF
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 13, 2026
This move raised eyebrows, with many seeing it as tanking. The Jazz's actions, along with the Pacers', prompted the NBA to take action, fining them $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.
“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 Thursday's statement.
“Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct,” Silver said.
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