The NBA announced on Thursday night that it is fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 “related to the management of their rosters for recent games.”
The NBA said that the Jazz were levied the fine “for conduct detrimental to the league” based on the fact that Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. were benched for the fourth quarter of a Feb. 7 game against the Orlando Magic and a Feb. 9 contest against the Miami Heat “even though these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt.”
Those personnel decisions stood in contrast to what many teams — including the Jazz — have done by sitting healthy players for the entirety of games.
The Jazz led the Magic by seven heading into the fourth quarter of that game and lost by three. Utah led the Heat by three after three quarters and won by four.
Following the games, many national media members spoke out strongly against what the Jazz did. For example, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said on a television appearance earlier this week, “I think what Utah’s doing right now is messing around with the integrity of the NBA.”
Said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement announcing the fines: “Overt behavior like this that prioritizes 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.
“Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
On Thursday, the Jazz announced that Jackson will be undergoing knee surgery that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Entering Thursday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers the Jazz held the sixth-worst record in the NBA at 18-37. They must secure a top eight pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, otherwise it will belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a 2021 trade involving Derrick Favors.
Following the NBA’s announcement Thursday, many people — including Jazz owner Ryan Smith — took to social media to express their thoughts.
Here are some of the reactions.