In the midst of another losing season, the Utah Jazz continue their patient rebuild under CEO Danny Ainge. The franchise has made notable moves recently, including trading for Jaren Jackson Jr., but the team remains at least a year or two away from contention.
This upcoming NBA Draft is critical, giving the 18-40 Jazz incentive to tank with their first-round pick, which is top-eight protected. That motivation, coupled with a recent star’s injury, sparked a viral rumor that was ultimately refuted.
NBA Denies Viral Claim of Sending Independent Doctor to Lauri Markkanen’s MRI
Tanking has been a major topic of discussion around the NBA, with the league proposing new penalties to curb the practice. Suggested measures include restrictions on top-four draft pick protections in consecutive years, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline, and limiting top-four picks for teams that reached the conference finals.
Several franchises have recently been penalized for resting stars, even when those players appeared to have medical conditions. The Jazz were among them, fined for benching Jackson Jr. and forward Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter of close games.
The team then faced another concerning report regarding Markkanen, who was ruled out of tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and scheduled to undergo an MRI for right ankle and right hip injuries.
Tony Jones, an NBA insider for The Athletic, initially reported that “The league is sending independent doctors to verify” the All-Star forward’s health status. Jones later corrected himself with a social media post:
“Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies.”
Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies.
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) February 26, 2026
NBA insider Marc Stein subsequently provided further clarification on what the league will have access to regarding Markkanen’s injury.
“The NBA says it is not sending an independent doctor to Utah to sit in on Lauri Markkanen’s scheduled MRI today as widely reported. The league office will have access to the MRI results as stipulated by the CBA and its Player Participation Policy.”
The NBA says it is not sending an independent doctor to Utah to sit in on Lauri Markkanen’s scheduled MRI today as widely reported.
The league office will have access to the MRI results as stipulated by the CBA and its Player Participation Policy.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 26, 2026
With Markkanen sidelined, Will Hardy’s team will likely continue to struggle, ensuring the franchise’s first-round pick remains secure and does not transfer to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
