NBA Fines Jazz for Markkanen Absence Amid Tanking Concerns

The NBA issued a $100,000 fine to the Jazz on Wednesday for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy.

The fine was given because Utah forward Lauri Markkanen was not available for the team’s game against the Wizards on March 5 at Capital One Arena. The league said the fine also accounted for “other recent games” missed by Markkanen, a one-time All-Star. 

Despite the fine, Markkanen has continued to miss games for Utah and has not played since Feb. 22. A second violation would cost the Jazz $250,000.

The timing of the fine was peculiar, as the league specifically called out the game against Washington. The Wizards, who hold the worst record in the NBA, defeated Utah, which has the second-worst record. The Jazz moved within two and a half games of Washington for the league’s worst record with about a month left in the regular season. 

The two teams meet again March 19 in Utah.

Teams that finish with the three worst records all have an equal chance at the No. 1 pick in the draft (14%), expected to be Duke’s Cooper Flagg. However, the lottery is only a selection of the top four picks, and the rest of the draft order is determined by record, with the worst teams getting the highest picks. 

The advantage of the lowest seed is protection if teams with lower odds jump them in the draft lottery. The team with the worst record at the end of the season will finish with, at worst, the No. 5 pick.

More Fines to Come? 

The NBA instituted its Player Participation Policy last season to keep teams from resting their players for the playoffs or for “tanking,” which is to deliberately lose games to improve lottery positioning.

However, the NBA has yet to issue fines on other teams that have rested stars, including the Raptors and Sixers. In recent weeks, Toronto has also started to bench its starters in the fourth quarter of games even when they are active.

The league did not respond to a request for comment. However, the official policy includes that “shutdowns” are considered a violation of the policy.

“Teams must refrain from any long-term shutdown (or near shutdown) whereby a star player ceases participating in games or begins to play a materially reduced role in circumstances affecting the integrity of the game,” the policy reads.