The NBA announced on Thursday that the Utah Jazz have been fined $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league following games against the Orlando Magic on February 7 and the Miami Heat on February 9. The league determined the team removed Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the fourth quarter, despite both being able to continue playing, affecting the outcomes of the contests.
The Indiana Pacers were fined $100,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy in their February 3 matchup against Utah. The NBA concluded that Pascal Siakam and two other starters could have participated under the policy’s medical standard or been rested in other games to comply.
Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized that such behavior, which prioritizes draft position over winning, undermines league integrity. “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,” Silver said.
The fines come as both franchises struggle in the standings, with Utah at 18-38 (.321) and Indiana at 15-40 (.273), placing them near the bottom of their respective conferences. The Jazz have lost seven of their last ten games, while the Pacers are 5-5 in their last ten outings.
The league’s investigation included independent physician reviews and assessments of team compliance with the Player Participation Policy. The NBA stated it is working with the Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement measures to prevent similar infractions.
