Tag: Player Participation Policy

Adam Silver Says Tanking Is Worse This Season; NBA Fines Jazz and Pacers

Adam Silver
February 2026

Silver said tanking behaviour is worse than recent memory, with the league fining Utah and Indiana for violating integrity and player participation standards, and warning further penalties could include draft-pick forfeiture. Utah was fined $500,000 for “conduct detrimental” linked to late-game benchings, while Indiana was fined $100,000 after an independent physician found held-out starters could have played under policy standards. Silver said the league will reconsider lottery and draft incentives because the system rewards losing.

Cavaliers hit with $250,000 fine for Darius Garland rest decision on national TV window

Cleveland Cavaliers
December 2025

The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy after determining that Darius Garland, classified as a star under the rules, should have been available for a nationally televised game against the Toronto Raptors but instead played only in the previous night’s non national contest. League investigators found Garland was capable of appearing in either game, yet the Cavaliers chose to rest him for the broadcast fixture, breaching the requirement to prioritise star availability in national TV windows, with the sizeable fine reflecting the NBA’s intent to strictly enforce its new participation standards.

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