NBA Fines Jazz And Pacers For Tanking To Influence The Draft

The NBA issues a major warning on 13 February 2026, fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 for breaching the player participation policy, with the league stating that Utah’s recent rotation choices raised concerns about competitive integrity late in close games.

The Indiana Pacers receive a separate $100,000 fine after holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters during a 3 February game against the Jazz, with both teams’ punishments linked to the same player participation rules introduced to protect fair competition.

The policy was created in September 2023 to discourage deliberate losing and protect the value of the draft lottery, with league officials worried that teams might rest healthy stars in order to chase improved odds for this year’s draft,

viewed by scouts as the strongest class in several seasons.

Utah’s handling of Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. comes under particular scrutiny, as both players appear in three quarters of recent road games against the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic but then sit the fourth quarter while the contests remain close and the results unresolved.

In Orlando, the Magic overturn a 17-point deficit to beat the Jazz 120-117, while in Miami the Jazz hold on for a 115-111 victory, and these contrasting outcomes deepen league questions about whether Utah’s rotation decisions were based on strategy, player health or draft position.

Asked after the win in Miami if there was any thought of re-inserting Markkanen and Jackson in the final period, Jazz coach Will Hardy gives a brief reply that draws attention across the league: I wasnt, Hardy said succinctly.

In announcing the fine for Utah, the NBA states in its release that "these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt," highlighting the league’s view that the decisions were not injury-driven and directly affected competitive balance.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reinforces that stance, saying in a statement that the competition committee and team owners will now consider more steps to address such cases: "Overt behaviour like this that prioritises 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.

Silver is expected to expand on the issue when speaking with media on Saturday during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, where questions about competitive integrity, player rest and the influence of the draft lottery on late-season strategy are likely to dominate discussion.

The Jazz are already repeat offenders under league rules, after receiving a $100,000 fine last season when Markkanen sat multiple games, and the latest penalty suggests closer monitoring of teams widely believed to be targeting strong lottery positions for 2026.

A number of franchises, including Utah, appear keen on securing a top pick in a draft headlined by local and college stars, with BYU’s AJ Dybantsa projected as a likely top-three, potentially franchise-shaping selection alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’s Darryn Peterson, all of whom draw heavy scouting attention.

The NBA’s latest sanctions against the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers underline a tightening approach to the player participation policy, as league leadership tries to protect the credibility of regular-season competition while clubs weigh the appeal of a powerful 2026 draft class featuring prospects such as AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/0JFQpOnOmF NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 13, 2026