The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks $750,000 Friday for their controversial decision to “rest” players during a recent key game.
The league had announced an investigation after the Mavs’ April 7 loss to the Chicago Bulls, and after a week of study, cited the Mavericks for “conduct detrimental to the league.”
According to the NBA’s statement, “The Mavericks violated the league’s player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization’s desire to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.”
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/t92m7uPKR1
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 14, 2023
Fans and NBA insiders immediately ripped the Mavericks after that loss, claiming the team blatantly tanked in order to improve their chances of keeping their 2023 first-round draft choice. The team rested several stars, including Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, in a key game that had playoff implications.
Under terms of the trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas in 2019, the Mavericks would keep their 2023 first-round pick if it were in the top 10, but give it to the New York Knicks if it were outside the top 10.
Tanking has been an issue in the NBA for years, but there’s been more debate about it this year given the 2023 draft features several potential mega-stars at the very top, led by French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
NBA fans generally disagreed with the NBA’s decision. Some argued the penalty was far too light, and others pointed out the Mavericks didn’t invent tanking.
A $750,000 charitable donation to secure a 14% chance at a Top 4 pick this June. https://t.co/moiilsjxal
— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 14, 2023
Mavs fined $750,000 for quitting last Friday. Money should be divvied up amongst fans who paid to watch that rubbish. #MFFLhttps://t.co/v95lklMxiU https://t.co/F2sNnWBuJA
— Richie Whitt (@richiewhitt) April 14, 2023
The money doesn’t matter. If tanking to get better lottery odds results in a difference-making player in the draft, then the Mavs couldn’t have spent $750k in a better way. https://t.co/eAN2eNCEMf
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 14, 2023
That’s pocket change for Mark Cuban
— Playmaker (@playmaker) April 14, 2023
Lol fining a team for doing what every other team does is quite wild. This was personal but aye🤷🏽♂️. We keep the pick.
— MalcolmG (@MalcolmG623) April 14, 2023
They’ll sell $750G in season tickets in the first 30 seconds if they win the lottery 🙄 (Twitter needs a wrist-slap emoji) https://t.co/ZpdjP9hSi0
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele) April 14, 2023
Very meek punishment. The picks protections should be stripped. David Stern would have taken real action.
— x-Knicks Agenda (@Knicksagenda) April 14, 2023
That would’ve been the punishment that sent a message to owners around the league and might change how they act moving forward, but I think if the NBA handed out that punishment, Cuban would’ve sued the league in actual court and the NBA would’ve lost the case.
— David Nusselhoff (@DavidNusselhoff) April 14, 2023
No problem, it’ll be paid in a few minutes. The cost of doing business, next subject.
— Antwon (@KingAntwonTX) April 14, 2023
