Pacers Fined $100K for Sitting Siakam, Siakam Says He Plays to Win

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the league is looking at changes to the draft lottery system to discourage tanking.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The NBA fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy after sitting All-Star Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a game against the Utah Jazz. Siakam said he only sat out on the advice of the team's medical staff and that he plays to win every time he's on the court. Silver acknowledged the incentives of the lottery can make it beneficial for some teams to lose games in order to acquire a better draft pick, and said the league's competition committee is looking at making changes to the draft lottery system.

Why it matters

The Pacers' fine highlights the ongoing debate around tanking in the NBA and the league's efforts to discourage the practice. As one of the league's top players, Siakam's comments provide an interesting player perspective on the issue.

The details

The NBA fined the Pacers $100,000 for sitting Siakam and two other starters in a game against the Jazz on Feb. 3. The league said this was a violation of the Player Participation Policy, as Siakam is an All-Star player. Siakam said he only sat out on the advice of the team's medical staff and that he's always trying to win when he's on the court. The Pacers have the fourth-worst record in the NBA this season after losing Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury in the playoffs last year.

  • The Pacers were fined $100,000 on February 3, 2026.
  • Siakam spoke publicly about the fine for the first time on February 15, 2026.

The players

Pascal Siakam

An All-Star player for the Indiana Pacers who leads the team in minutes played this season.

Adam Silver

The commissioner of the NBA who acknowledged the league's draft lottery system can incentivize tanking and said the competition committee is looking at potential changes.

Tyrese Haliburton

A Pacers player who suffered an Achilles tendon tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know what that comes from. I play almost every game. I play the most minutes. I'm the guy who wants to be on the court. I want to play. I sat in games when the medical side said, 'You need to sit. It's better for your body.' I don't think it's any more than that.”

— Pascal Siakam (Sirius XM)

“Every time I'm on the court, I'm trying to win.”

— Pascal Siakam (Sirius XM)

“The Competition Committee started earlier this year reexamine the whole approach to the draft lottery. It would have to go to a vote of the board of governors but there have been a lot of different ideas over the year, not just changing odds but looking at if there is a better system.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (Indianapolis Star)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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