The NBA has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for resting their starters during the fourth quarter of games. Following this, the team has announced season-ending surgeries for two of its starters.
Recently, Jaren Jackson, Jr. underwent surgery to remove a growth from his left knee. Center Jusuf Nurkic will also have surgery on his nose, concluding his 2025-26 season. Although these surgeries are needed, they will aid the Jazz in their strategy to lose games.
Utah Jazz aim for a bottom-four record
The Jazz have been focusing on losing since 2022 when they traded All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Despite having poor records, they haven’t been lucky in the draft lottery, landing at No. 9, No. 10, and No. 5 in the drafts since those trades.
This season, the urgency to lose has increased because of a 2021 trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the Jazz included center Derrick Favors’ contract. This deal also included a 2024 first-round draft pick, which was protected for picks 1-10 for the last two seasons and from 1-8 in 2026. If the Jazz do not convey this pick by June, they will not be obligated to send it.
To ensure they secure one of the four worst records in the NBA, the Jazz need to finish low in the standings so they don’t drop below No. 8 in the draft. To achieve this, they have been resting Lauri Markkanen and the newly acquired Jackson during crucial moments, prompting the NBA to issue a hefty fine. Now, they can avoid penalties for sidelining two-thirds of their frontcourt due to medical reasons.
Jaren Jackson and Jusuf Nurkic to undergo non-urgent surgeries
Insider Chris Haynes reported that Nurkic’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday due to an old broken nose.