The Utah Jazz apparently found a loophole in the NBA’s player participation policy, keeping stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. from playing in the fourth quarter of a recent close game, only for the league to send a message with a hefty fine.
Last updated: 13/02/26 12:25pm
Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was relieved by head coach Will Hardy before the fourth quarter of this month’s games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
The NBA fined the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers, saying both teams had used healthy players in recent games and noted that compromising integrity cannot be tolerated.
Utah, which has won only 18 of 56 games this season, appeared to have found a loophole in the NBA’s player participation policy, but the league sent a message by fining the Jazz $500,000.
The NBA also donated $100,000 to the Indiana Pacers, who held off Pascal Siakam and two other starters in the game against the Jazz.
The policy was introduced in September 2023 with the goal of stopping teams from intentionally losing to improve their chances in the draft lottery.
This tactic, known as “tanking,” is used by coaches to improve their draft position by fielding an uncompetitive team and essentially forfeiting wins.
This year’s draft is considered the strongest in years, which could motivate clubs like the Jazz to go after the top picks.
Lauri Markkanen did not play in the fourth quarter of a recent close game.
The Jazz did not play stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of a recent close game. Both played three-quarters in recent road games against the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. The Magic rallied from a 17-point deficit to win 120-117, but the Jazz defeated the Heat 115-111.
Jazz coach Will Hardy was asked after the game in Miami if he would consider playing Markkanen and Jackson in the fourth quarter.
“It wasn’t,” Hardy said simply.
Hardy also said he was following the advice of the team’s medical staff after the loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Lauri had a time limit so I let him sit,” he said. “So if our medical team imposes a time limit on Lauri, I will try to keep him healthy.”
Jackson’s playing time was limited due to a growing knee.
In fining the Jazz, the NBA said in a release: “While these players were able to continue playing, the outcome of the subsequent game remains in question.”
The Pacers (15-40) and Jazz (18-38) are in the bottom six teams in the league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that the competition committee and team owners will work to “implement further measures to eradicate this type of behavior.”
“This blatant act of prioritizing draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition, and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that undermine the integrity of our game,” Silver said.
Silver is likely to address the topic further when he speaks with the media during All-Star Week in Los Angeles on Saturday.
“We agree to disagree,” Jazz owner Ryan Smith posted on social media. “And you won a game in Miami and you got fined? That makes sense.”
AJ Divanza is considered a franchise-changing draft pick.
BYU’s AJ Divanza is considered a top-three draft pick, along with Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’ Darin Peterson, as a potential franchise-changer.
But this is also a deep draft that could give opportunities to difference-makers, even if they’re just in the lottery.
Under the direction of CEO Danny Ainge and his son, team president Austin, the Jazz are looking to return to their glory days. The teams of John Stockton and Karl Malone in the 1990s were perennial championship favorites, reaching the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
