NBA Cracks Down on Tanking Amid Gambling Concerns

League fines teams for sitting players, citing integrity of games and bets

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The NBA has delivered hefty fines to the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for repeatedly benching star players, a practice known as 'tanking' to improve draft position. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said tanking is 'worse this year than we've seen in recent memory,' and an insider suggests the league's crackdown is driven by concerns over the integrity of NBA bets rather than just issues of competitiveness.

Why it matters

The rise of sports gambling has created a precarious position for the NBA, as the league has embraced gambling partnerships but now must worry about the negative influence of so much wagering. Tanking by teams can compromise the integrity of bets, and the league is concerned about anyone with insider knowledge exploiting this information.

The details

The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for repeatedly benching star Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter, and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for sitting starters, albeit on a back-to-back game. NBA insider Ben Golliver claims the league's crackdown is partly due to pressure from gambling partners FanDuel and DraftKings, as 'angry gamblers and a lot of gambling companies' are affected when teams are tanking.

  • On February 17, 2026, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for tanking.
  • Also on February 17, 2026, the NBA fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for tanking.

The players

Adam Silver

The NBA commissioner who said tanking is 'worse this year than we've seen in recent memory' and that the league is considering 'every possible remedy.'

Lauri Markkanen

A star player for the Utah Jazz who was repeatedly benched in the fourth quarter, leading to the team's $500,000 fine.

Ben Golliver

An NBA insider who claimed the league's crackdown on tanking is partly due to pressure from gambling partners FanDuel and DraftKings.

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What they’re saying

“We know how much the NBA has gotten in bed with gambling... If coaches are just willy-nilly not playing guys the entire game and they're not letting people bet on those games, you're going to have a lot of angry gamblers and a lot of gambling companies.”

— Ben Golliver, NBA Insider (Twitter)

“Tanking, meaning overt behavior by teams to lose games to improve draft position, was 'worse this year than we've seen in recent memory.'”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (News Conference)

What’s next

The NBA is expected to continue its crackdown on tanking, with the league considering 'every possible remedy' to address the issue.

The takeaway

The NBA's embrace of sports gambling has created a new set of challenges, as the league must now balance its desire to grow the sport's popularity and revenue through gambling partnerships with the need to maintain the integrity of the game and bets. The league's harsh penalties for tanking suggest it is willing to take strong action to protect its interests in the burgeoning gambling market.