The NBA has fined two teams for resting players and compromising the fairness of games, raising concerns about the integrity of bets placed on NBA matches.
Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned at his All-Star Saturday news conference that the league was exploring “every possible remedy” to address tanking. An NBA insider noted that the league’s worries stemmed not just from competitive balance, but also from pressure exerted by its gambling partners, FanDuel and DraftKings.
Tanking and gambling issues in the NBA
Silver explained that the practice of tanking—where teams intentionally lose games to secure better draft positions—has become more pronounced this year. This was a key reason the Utah Jazz was fined $500,000 for regularly sidelining star Lauri Markkanen during crucial fourth quarters. The Indiana Pacers also faced a $100,000 fine for resting starters in a back-to-back game.
Ben Golliver, an NBA commentator, highlighted that the commissioner’s action was partly because tanking leads to dissatisfaction among bettors and could upset gambling companies.