Lauri Markkanen has been absent from the Utah Jazz lineup since February 22, sitting out nine games due to what the team has chalked up to a back problem. With the Jazz seemingly not focused on winning and aiming for a high lottery pick, it seemed unlikely that we’d see Markkanen back on the floor this season.
That is, unless you’re an NBA executive. In 2023, Markkanen earned All-Star honors, making him a “star player” under the league’s Player Participation Policy. Instituted a couple of years ago, this policy is designed to keep top players participating in regular-season games, helping to curb the rising trend of load management.
The NBA hit the Utah Jazz with a $100,000 fine for not adhering to this policy. The league’s reasoning? According to their statement:
The violation took place when the Jazz didn’t have Lauri Markkanen, categorized as a star under the policy, on the court during their match against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 5, as well as other recent games.
Interestingly, Markkanen will be back in action on Wednesday night, lining up against the Grizzlies. The fines for breaching the Player Participation Policy can escalate quickly: a second offense by the Jazz would result in a $250,000 penalty, a third would jump to $1.25 million, and a fourth would reach $2.25 million.
Often, discussions around the Player Participation Policy are about keeping players active during televised matchups. However, one section of this policy states:
Teams should avoid any prolonged shutdowns (or near shutdowns) where a star player stops participating in games or sees a significantly reduced role in ways that could impact the game’s integrity.
Although the Jazz have cited back problems as Markkanen’s reason for sitting out these nine games, an independent doctor reviews the medical records to verify whether the team, or any team, complies with the rules. In this situation, it seems clear the Jazz were prioritizing their draft odds, a strategy that has now cost them.
