NBA commissioner dropping the hammer on tanking teams sends a message to rest of league

The Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers found creative ways to get around the NBA's anti-tanking rules. Commissioner Adam Silver levied massive fines anyway.

The NBA fined the Jazz $500K and the Pacers $100K for "conduct detrimental to the league" and violations of the player participation policy stemming from games on Feb. 7 and Feb. 3. It's a sign that the NBA is taking steps to prevent what could be a tsunami of tanking down the stretch.

Utah was fined for being a repeat tanking offender

The Jazz drew a fine for their attempts to comply with the NBA's participation policy that forbids resting healthy stars, while still trying to ensure that they lost games. They began benching stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the fourth quarter, even in competitive games.

The reason for the $500K fine given to the Jazz is for more than what Silver called "overt behavior likes this that prioritizes draft position over winning that undermines the spirit of NBA competition." It's because the NBA ramps up the punishment for repeat offenders. The Jazz drew a $100K fine last season, also for sitting out a healthy Markkanen in order to lose games. The extra $400K in fine money is based on, well, embarrassment.

The cardinal rule under Silver's tenure as commissioner has been simple: Don't embarrass the NBA. Some of the league's biggest punishments have come as a result of teams and players ignoring previous disciplinary actions and repeating their behavior.

Draymond Green got an "indefinite suspension" for committing a flagrant foul after a previous five-game suspension in December 2023. Ja Morant drew a 25-game ban for a second gun-related incident — after the NBA helped an apology tour and counseling. The Philadelphia 76ers got a big fine for being repeatedly deceptive about player injuries.

The Jazz won't have to worry about benching Jackson anymore. He'll be out for the season after having knee surgery.

Indiana Pacers resting players was more defensible

The Pacers' $100K fine reflects a similar violation. They sat out All-Star Pascal Siakam Feb. 3 when he was healthy enough to play, along with starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. Ironically, their opponent was the Jazz, who did play Markkanen in the fourth quarter.

However, the Pacers were on the second half of a back-to-back, with Siakam, Nesmith and Nembhard all playing the night before. That was defensible resting! 

But the NBA fines come down to embarrassment, and what the Pacers have done in benching a seemingly healthy Ivica Zubac is technically legal, but clearly anti-competitive and embarrassing to the league. Like nailing Al Capone on tax evasion, the NBA got the Pacers on player participation because their blatant tanking with Zubac isn't against the rules.

It's a good sign the NBA has recognized tanking may get ugly with so many teams angling for draft position. It remains to be seen if financial penalties can correct the trend.