- The NBA fined Dallas $750,000 for resting players during a game against the Chicago Bulls last week
- NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said that the Mavericks’ actions had failed the league and undermined the integrity of the sport
The Dallas Mavericks have been fined $750,000 by the NBA for resting key players during their match with the Chicago Bulls.
Dallas engaged in “conduct detrimental to the league” by sitting out most of their key players against the Chicago Bulls, according to the NBA. The Mavericks showed a desire to lose the match in order to improve their chances of getting a top-10 pick in the summer’s draft.
“The Mavericks violated the league’s player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization’s desire to lose the game in order to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft. The league did not find that the players who participated in the game were not playing to win.” The NBA said in a statement, as per BBC Sports.
The Dallas Mavericks have been fined $750k for sitting players in a must-win game for playoff hopes. Photo/ Mavs Moneyball.
NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars added that the Mavericks’ actions had failed the league and undermined the integrity of the sport.
The team sat out five of their best players – Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Josh Green and Christian Wood. Dallas said Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber were injured, whereas Josh Green and Christian Wood needed rest.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Maverick’s biggest star, played just 13 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on April 7. He played the first quarter presumably because the Mavericks had scheduled a tribute to his home country, Slovenia.
All the above six players featured in Dallas’ previous win over the Sacramento Kings. This lead to the accusations of Dallas playing a weak side so as to lose the game against the Chicago Bulls and improve draft chances. Speaking after the 115-112 loss, coach Jason Kidd told reporters that they are trying to build a championship team.
“It’s not so much waving the white flag. It’s decisions sometimes are hard in this business. We’re trying to build a championship team. With this decision, this is maybe a step back. But hopefully it leads to going forward.” The New York Times quotes Jason Kidd.
Jason Kidd. Photo/ Sportscasting.
If the Dallas Mavericks manage a top-10 pick for the 2023 draft, they’ll get to pick it. However, it will go to the New York Knicks as final payment for the January 2019 trade to sign Kristaps Porzings if they finish 11th or lower.
It’s not the first time that the NBA has fined the Dallas Mavericks for ‘losing’. Back in 2018, Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ owner, was fined $600,000 for saying on a podcast that losing is their best option when the team was out of the playoff mix.
Last season, the Dallas Mavericks had a record of 52-30 and advanced to the Western Conference finals. However, things have difficult for them this season, having finished just 38-44.
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