NBA Fines Dallas Mavericks $750k USD For Resting Key Players During Crucial Play-in Spot Game

Update: As the NBA season wrapped up last week, the Dallas Mavericks — while still in contention for a spot in the NBA Play-in Tournament — opted to rest five of its key contributors: Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood and Maxi Kleber, against the Chicago Bulls. After the game, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd made it clear that the organization was attempting to tank to improve its draft lottery odds. Shortly thereafter, the NBA opened an investigation and ultimately decided that the Mavericks organization participated in “conduct detrimental to the league in an elimination game against the Chicago Bulls.” Due to this violation of the NBA’s resting policy, many speculated that the team’s first round pick was in jeopardy. However, the league has simply fined the Mavericks a total of $750,000 USD — a negligible amount for multi-billionaire Mark Cuban.

The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/t92m7uPKR1

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 14, 2023

Original Story: After signing Kyrie Irving, fans were excited to see the veteran pair up with Luka Dončić for a chance to bring the team to the NBA Finals. However, while Irving and Dončić have shown great chemistry, the team has seen a precipitous fall, now eliminated from the playoffs. When Irving joined, the team was fifth in the Western Conference and a contender for the playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks are now being investigated by the NBA with regards to why the team decided to sit out key players “in their next-to-last game of the season, even while the team still had a mathematical chance of making the play-in tournament.”

The investigation pertains to Saturday’s match against the Chicago Bulls. Dallas saw a 115-112 loss to the team. Kyrie Irving sat out the entire game while Dončić was out most of the game. Without the help of Irving and Dončić, the Mavs blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead. League spokesman Mike Bass said, “The NBA commenced an investigation today into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ roster decisions and game conduct with respect to last night’s Chicago Bulls-Mavericks game, including the motivations behind those actions lead which later saw the team eliminated from post-season consideration.” Before the game, Dallas coach Jason Kidd said that the decision to sit the players was made by “the organization.” After the game, he reiterated that it was a decision made by his bosses, owners Mark Cuban and GM Nico Harrison.

It remains to be seen what the outcomes of the investigation will be.

From NBA spokesman Mike Bass: “The NBA commenced an investigation today into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ roster decisions and game conduct with respect to last night’s Bulls-Mavericks game, including the motivations behind those actions.”

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) April 8, 2023

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