Mavericks fined $750K for violating NBA's player resting policy: 'Undermined the integrity of our sport'

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The Dallas Mavericks have been fined $750,000 by the NBA after the organization sat out Kyrie Irving and four major contributors against the Chicago Bulls in the second-to-last game of the regular season. 

The league announced an investigation into the Mavericks' apparent tanking the day after the game. 

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reacts during a timeout in the game against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 22, 2023. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

"The Mavericks violated the league’s player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization’s desire to lose the game in order to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft," the NBA said Friday when announcing the fine. "The league did not find that the players who participated in the game were not playing to win." 

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The Mavs still owe a top-10 protected draft pick to the New York Knicks, stemming from their 2019 trade for Kristaps Porzingis.

"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. The Mavericks’ actions failed our fans and our league," said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. 

From left: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and guards Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. sit courtside during the game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center in Dallas on April 7, 2023.  (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

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