Owner of Utah Jazz criticizes the sanction for tanking: "We win and we get fined. It makes sense.."

The NBA has decided to send a strong message against the practice of tanking, and one of the teams singled out is the Utah Jazz. The league fined the franchise $500,000 for "conduct detrimental to the league," a penalty that has triggered an immediate reaction from its owner, Ryan Smith.

The decision comes at a time when more teams seem willing to prioritize their draft prospects over immediate results, especially looking ahead to a projected strong class for 2026. Commissioner Adam Silver had recently imposed a lesser fine on the Indiana Pacers, but the penalty against the Jazz was much more severe.

Shortly after the sanction was announced, Smith took to social media to express his disagreement with the measure. In an ironic tone, he questioned why the team was fined despite winning one of the games highlighted by the league, which, in his opinion, undermined the logic behind the penalty:

"Agree to disagree... Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? Makes sense...," Ryan Smith posted on X

His message was interpreted by many as a more emotional rather than structural defense since, even though Utah secured a victory, the handling of player rotations in several games clearly fueled the perception that the franchise is prioritizing the future over the present.

Rotation Decisions under Scrutiny

Coach Will Hardy sparingly used some of his key players in recent games against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, which was interpreted by the league as a clear sign of intent.

In one of those games, the Jazz benched Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire final quarter, a decision hard to justify from a purely competitive standpoint, although the players left on the court managed to secure the victory.

A Coherence Issue for the League

Beyond the specific case of Utah, the debate revolves around the NBA's consistency. Teams like the Washington Wizards or Sacramento Kings have also been singled out for similar strategies without receiving, as of now, equivalent sanctions.

If the league aims to eradicate or at least discourage tanking, many believe it should apply the same standard across the board. Otherwise, the message risks appearing selective.

A Future Still Marked by Reconstruction

With a record of 18-37, the Jazz remain entrenched in a rebuilding process that prioritizes development and asset accumulation. Additionally, Jackson Jr. is set to undergo surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season, further lowering immediate competitive expectations.

The fine may not alter the franchise's course, but it does place Utah at the center of a debate that promises to escalate as the season progresses: how far can a team go in pursuing the future without crossing the line deemed unacceptable by the NBA.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El dueño de Utah Jazz critica la sanción por tanking: "Ganamos y nos multan. Tiene sentido..."