The North American Basketball League (NBA) on Friday imposed a fine of 750,000 dollars (682,000 euros) on the Dallas Mavericks for resting several important players on April 7 during one of their last regular season matches against Chicago.
“The Mavericks have violated NBA regulations on player rest and have shown through public statements and actions that they want to lose this game in hopes of earning the 2023 Draft No. 1 pick,” it said. the NBA in a statement.
According to Joe Dumars, NBA vice president in charge of basketball operations, the Texas franchise, owned by businessman Mark Cuban, made decisions “that have damaged the integrity of our sport”. “They cheated with our league and our supporters,” he added.
The Mavericks lost 115-112 to the Chicago Bulls. While his team still had a chance to advance to the Western Conference play-offs, “Mavs” coach Jason Kidd chose to do without most of the members of his major five.
He had thus rested Kyrie Irving (recovery from a right foot injury), Tim Hardaway Jr. (pain in the left ankle), Josh Green (rest), Maxi Kleber (recovery from a hamstring injury). right leg) and Christian Wood (rest).
The star of the team Luka Doncic had only played the first 12 minutes of the match before remaining on the bench until the end of the match. Dallas finished 11th in the Western Conference with a record of 38 wins and 44 losses.
This is not the first time that Mark Cuban has been sanctioned: in 2018, he had to pay a fine of 600,000 dollars for having admitted that the Mavericks were “tanking”, that is to say losing voluntarily in the hope of winning. get the best pick possible in the Draft.