NBA Fines Jazz and Pacers for Tanking Violations

Commissioner Adam Silver sends a strong message to the rest of the league about blatant tanking tactics.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The NBA has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for "conduct detrimental to the league" and violations of the player participation policy. The fines come as the league cracks down on teams that are finding creative ways to lose games in order to improve their draft position, a practice known as tanking.

Why it matters

The fines sent a clear message from the NBA that it will not tolerate blatant tanking attempts, even if teams try to skirt the rules. Tanking has become an increasing problem in the league, with more teams prioritizing draft position over winning. The commissioner's actions show he is willing to come down hard on repeat offenders to preserve the integrity of the competition.

The details

The Jazz were fined for benching healthy stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of games, even when the team was still competitive. The Pacers were fined for sitting out healthy players like All-Star Pascal Siakam and starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. The NBA said these actions "prioritize draft position over winning" and "undermine the spirit of NBA competition."

  • On February 7, the Jazz were fined $500,000.
  • On February 3, the Pacers were fined $100,000.

The players

Adam Silver

The commissioner of the NBA who levied the fines against the Jazz and Pacers for their tanking tactics.

Lauri Markkanen

A star player for the Utah Jazz who was benched in the fourth quarter of games, even when the team was still competitive.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

A star player for the Utah Jazz who was also benched in the fourth quarter of games, even when the team was still competitive.

Pascal Siakam

An All-Star player for the Indiana Pacers who was sat out of a game when he was healthy enough to play.

Andrew Nembhard

A starter for the Indiana Pacers who was sat out of a game when he was healthy enough to play.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The NBA will continue to monitor teams' behavior and be prepared to levy additional fines or other punishments if they continue to find creative ways to tank games.

The takeaway

The NBA's crackdown on tanking sends a strong message that the league will not tolerate blatant attempts to prioritize draft position over competitive integrity. Teams will need to find a balance between developing young talent and putting a competitive product on the court.