The Utah Jazz have been a bottom-dwelling team in the NBA standings over the last few seasons. In the 2025–26 season, they once again sit in the 13th spot with an 18–38 record. Meanwhile, the Jazz’s recent tanking efforts to secure top draft picks did not sit well with the NBA, and the team was fined $500,000.
Former Utah Jazz Forward Kyle Anderson Criticizes the Whopping Fine
Anderson came to Utah in a three-team trade involving the LA Clippers and Miami Heat back in July 2025. However, before he could finish the season, he was shipped back to the Memphis Grizzlies in an eight-player trade involving Jaren Jackson Jr. on February 3, 2026. The 6’8” forward expressed his thoughts on the surprising $500K fine imposed on his former team.
Anderson wrote on Instagram: “I don’t have a dog in the fight & promise I’m not being petty. I’m just going off me scrolling Twitter to see what’s happening in the league, and I gotta say the Jazz fan accounts that are so pro-tanking and call it out damn near every game for a good laugh are so pissed about the fine that was given out.”
He continued, “How u mad for knowing it’s wrong, getting caught, and there being repercussions?? How can u be mad at OKC FO for ‘allegedly’ going to the league to say something. Yes, they are trying to actually get that pick and not allow a team with a good roster in their division to get the pick lol?”
Anderson concluded, “This is competition at the end of the day in every aspect. Just my thoughts while I’m on a 4-hr flight reading about what’s going on with my job & asking for ketchup in first class to no avail.”
Kyle Anderson—who was traded from the Jazz to the Grizzlies as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade—weighs in on the Jazz’s $500k fine for tanking policies. pic.twitter.com/HfGI6P6TrQ
— trenton (@RentFreeGrizzly) February 13, 2026
In the game against the Miami Heat on February 9, the Jazz pulled out starters Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkić, and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter. Likewise, against the Orlando Magic on February 7, Utah benched its starters for the entire fourth quarter.
Both instances appeared to be deliberate attempts to slide further down the league’s standings and bolster their chances of landing top lottery picks. However, the league took notice and levied a hefty fine against the Jazz.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s statement read: “Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition, and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” he said.
Silver added, “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
The Jazz have won two of their last three games, but they are nowhere near the playoff race. It will be interesting to see how Utah responds following the fine. They suit up next against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, February 20.
