The NBA has handed a $750,000 monetary fine against the Dallas Mavericks for violating the league’s resting policy, specifically of the sitting out of their key players on their 115-112 loss against the Chicago Bulls last Apr. 7.
The NBA described Dallas’ action of sitting out their players as “detrimental to the league in an elimination game.” They labelled Kyrie Irving (foot), Christian Wood (rest), Josh Green (rest), Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle), and Maxi Kleber (hamstring) as out within the team’s injury list becore facing the Bulls. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic was allowed to play, but only for an unusual 13 minutes of action which covered the entire first frame and the initial portion of the second quarter.
In the postgame presser of the match, head coach Jason Kidd went on to reveal that the Mavericks brass have intended to deactivate their core players in hopes to prepare for the offseason. The lost meant Dallas to get eliminated in the 2023 playoffs, but has positioned itself to obtain their first-round pick in the upcoming draft which was owned by the New York Knicks in wake of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Albeit set to get closer to advance to the Play-In tourney should they have won, the Mavs’ decision to shut down their rotational units and take the defeat against the Bulls drew widespread reactions around the league. Doncic, for his part, even admitted that he wasn’t amused of this controversial move made by his franchise.
“The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport,” said Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president. “The Mavericks’ actions failed our fans and league.”
This serves as not the only occasion that the Mavericks have received a six-digit fine. Outspoken franchise governor Mark Cuban was notably slapped by the NBA a $600,000 punishment last 2018 due to his public comments about tanking.
