Kendrick Perkins on Jazz and Pacers fines for tanking: "Should be 5 million dollars"

Former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the league fell short in fining the Utah Jazz and the Indiana Pacers for how they recently managed their rosters amid suspicions of tanking. Utah received a fine of $500,000, while Indiana was penalized with $100,000, but Perkins feels that these amounts do not reflect the seriousness of the situation.

During an appearance on ESPN's NBA Today, Perkins was clear in stating that the NBA should punish this type of behavior much more severely.

“I wish Adam Silver had imposed a fine of $5 million for disrespecting basketball,” said Perkins. “Let's stop being nice and using the word tanking. This is losing games. You are teaching to try to lose in one of the most competitive sports in the world.”

For the former center, the issue goes beyond a simple sports strategy: he believes it sends a negative message to players and fans about the league's competitive spirit.

The Games That Resulted in the Sanction

In the case of the Jazz, the NBA pointed out two specific games: February 7 against the Orlando Magic and February 9 against the Miami Heat. In both, Utah benched Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. during the last quarter, even though the games were close, and neither of them was listed as injured.

These decisions fueled the perception that the franchise prioritized improving their draft odds over competing for victory.

Questions About the Value of the 2026 Draft

Perkins also questioned the argument of losing to secure a future superstar.

“There is no generational talent in this draft,” he stated. “Are there good franchise players? Yes. But are they a Victor Wembanyama, a Cooper Flagg, or a LeBron James? No.”

From his perspective, not even the projected quality of the 2026 class justifies sacrificing competitiveness.

Current Situation of the Jazz

Utah holds a record of 18-38, the third worst in the Western Conference, and appears headed for another season at the bottom of the standings. However, the controversy has reignited the debate on how far the NBA should allow—or penalize—extreme rebuilding strategies.

In Perkins' words, the solution lies in much harsher penalties to discourage any deliberate attempt to “throw the game.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kendrick Perkins, sobre las multas a Jazz y Pacers por tanking: "Deberían ser 5 millones de dólares"