NBA fines Nets $100,000 for violating the league's player participation policy

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The Brooklyn Nets became the first team to be disciplined by the NBA for violating the league’s player participation policy Thursday and were fined $100,000 for sitting four players for the team’s Dec. 27 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. 

The league issued a press release announcing the fine after an investigation that found the four players benched — Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith — could have played under the new policy’s medical standard. 

Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets on the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center Dec. 27, 2023, in New York City.  (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

"Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that four Nets rotation players, who did not participate in the game, could have played under the medical standard in the Player Participation Policy, which was adopted prior to this season," the statement said.  

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"The organization’s conduct violated the Policy, which is intended to promote player participation in the NBA’s 82-game season."

During his postgame press conference, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn was questioned about treating the matchup like an "exhibition game." 

"I have too much respect for the dudes that suit up and put their body on the line and the competition level to even mention the word exhibition," Vaughn said. "Any guy could’ve ended their career tonight by one play. And I treated it as such." 

Jacque Vaughn, head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, during the fourth quarter of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at