An NBA spokesperson issued a statement to Sam Amick of The Athletic disputing Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle’s description of the investigation that led to Indiana being fined by the league.
The spokesperson said Carlisle’s account did not accurately reflect how the review process unfolded.
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” the spokesperson said. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ general manager and the team’s senior vice president (of) sports medicine and performance were interviewed as part of the process. The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league and the team reported that an interview with Coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
The Pacers were one of two teams fined before the All-Star break for player management decisions, receiving a $100K penalty, while the Jazz were fined $500K.
Commissioner Adam Silver indicated at the time that the league believed both teams may have been prioritizing “draft position over winning.”
Indiana was penalized for sitting Pascal Siakam and two other players during a February 3 game against Utah.
The NBA said an independent medical review determined all three players were healthy enough to play, even if only in limited roles, which violated the league’s player participation policy.
Carlisle later addressed the situation during a radio appearance on 107.5 The Fan, making clear he disagreed with the league’s conclusion and how the investigation was handled.
“I didn’t agree with it,” Carlisle said. “There was a league lawyer that was doing the interview that kind of unilaterally decided that Aaron Nesmith, who had been injured the night before and couldn’t hold the ball, should have played in the game, which just seems ridiculous.
“During the interview process – I was not on it, but I heard details – we asked them if they wanted to talk to the doctors, our doctors, about it because it was something that was documented by our doctors and trainers. They said no, they didn’t need to. They talked to their doctors, who did not examine Aaron Nesmith. And we asked them if they wanted to talk to (Nesmith), and they said, no, they didn’t need to.
“This was shocking to me. And during the interview, they also asked if we considered medicating him to play in a game when we were 30 games under .500. So I was very surprised. Obviously didn’t agree with it.”
Siakam, who sat out due to rest, was the only player specifically named in the league’s statement and qualifies as a “star” under participation rules, meaning the fine could have been justified on that basis alone.
Still, Carlisle’s comments raise questions about how the NBA determined that Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard were healthy enough to play.
Rick Carlisle Questions NBA's Decision To Fine Pacers https://t.co/8b52wX5bFa pic.twitter.com/QYcjmsFJSt
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 24, 2026
