‘Desire to lose’: Mavs fined $1.2m for fielding weakened team in must-win game

The Dallas Mavericks have been fined AU$1.2 million fine after controversially fielding a weakened team in their loss to the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, the NBA announced on Friday.

The NBA said the Mavericks abrupt decision to hold out five key players in a game they had to win in order to have a chance of reaching the postseason represented “conduct detrimental to the league”.

Watch an average of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

“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 and head of basketball operations.

Sat, 15 Apr

Saturday April 15th

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters before the game that he had intended to field a full-strength side before being informed by billionaire owner Mark Cuban and the front office to rest Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr. and key reserves Josh Green, Maxi Kleber and Christian Wood.

“We were going to play until told otherwise,” Kidd said.

“And today is the day that we’ve been told that we’re going to do something different.”

It is not the first time Dallas and Cuban have fallen afoul of the NBA over the issue of “tanking”. Cuban was fined $900,000 in 2018 after saying in a podcast that he had told players and coaches that “losing is our best option”.