The Utah Jazz sent mixed signals to the rest of the NBA with their blockbuster trade deadline acquisition of star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. amid a rebuilding season with an eye toward the 2026 draft lottery.
However, the Jazz have quickly compensated for the win-now move by resting Jackson and his co-star, Lauri Markkanen, down the stretch of back-to-back close games, sparking calls for discipline from the league office.
NBA World Blasts Jazz for ‘Point Shaving’ As Tanking Efforts Intensify
Utah coach Will Hardy turned heads with his divisive decision to bench Jackson and Markkanen for the entire fourth quarter of Saturday’s 120-117 road loss to the Orlando Magic. The questionable coaching move allowed the Magic to complete their comeback from a 17-point deficit and spoil Jackson’s Jazz debut.
Hardy followed that up with a similar act during Monday’s road clash against the Miami Heat. This time around, his squad managed to prevail 115-111 behind wing Brice Sensabaugh’s clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with 45.5 seconds remaining.
Despite the contest’s outcome being in doubt down to the final minute, Hardy acknowledged postgame that he “wasn’t” close to subbing his two best players back in at any point during the final frame.
Will Hardy on how close he was to putting JJJ and Luari back in the game in the 4th:
“I wasn’t”
like wth??? pic.twitter.com/ujlLUrco41
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 10, 2026
NBA pundits on X promptly took notice of Utah’s latest stealth tanking efforts, with some demanding the franchise face repercussions.
“This has become incredibly embarrassing. Will Hardy is a very respected coach, but what he has done in the last two games is actual point shaving. … The NBA is ignoring a major problem,” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson wrote.
“At this point, what do you even do if you’re the NBA? These are just attempts at shameless tanking by the Jazz,” ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly pointed out.
“The Jazz had their best players sitting at the end of the game and still won in Miami, everybody should be ashamed,” NBA personality Molly Morrison contended, taking aim at both sides.
“The Jazz are really doing this again,” Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix griped, referencing Utah’s past tanking endeavors.
“Jazz should lose their first-round pick, I think. Not even a question. Intentionally sitting starters in order to lose a game is against the integrity of the game and BEYOND,” journalist Alec Sturm asserted.
It remains to be seen whether NBA commissioner Adam Silver will lay the hammer down, as the league has already taken drastic measures to reduce tanking, including fining teams for resting players.
Regardless, the Jazz (17-37, 13th in the Western Conference) appear determined to enhance their lottery odds by any means necessary in hopes of landing an elite draft prospect like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, or Darryn Peterson come June.
