Jazz Owner Reacts to NBA's $500,000 Punishment

The Utah Jazz defeated the Miami Heat three days ago, but the NBA thought the Salt Lake City franchise had committed actions that tainted the league's integrity.

NBA Communications announced that the Jazz, together with the Indiana Pacers, have been handed six-digit fines for conduct detrimental to the league under the Player Participation Policy (PPP). The former were asked to pay a $500,000 fine, while the latter received a $100,000 fine.

"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," 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."

The behavior in question centers around the Jazz's three main big men. Coach Will Hardy decided not to play Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic starting in the middle of the third quarter against the Heat. They are accused of tanking for making such a decision.