By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA announced today that the Dallas Mavericks organization has been fined $750,000 for conduct detrimental to the league in an elimination game against the Chicago Bulls on April 7.
The Mavericks violated the league’s player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization’s desire to lose the game to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The league did not find that the players who participated in the game were not playing to win.
“The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport,” said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, “The Mavericks’ actions failed our fans and our league.”
Star player of the Texan team Luka Doncic played only 13 minutes vs. the Bulls, and Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr, Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, and Christian Wood were out, as coach Jason Kidd described it by “the organization’s decision.”
“I didn’t like that decision,” Doncic said, “That’s it.”
Mavs finished the season as 11th on the Western Conference standings and with the 10th worst record in the league (38-44).