Jazz owner Ryan Smith ‘agrees to disagree’ with fine from league office

Ryan Smith did not hide his reaction.

The Jazz owner responded with an eye roll and a pointed “agree to disagree” after the NBA fined Utah $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league tied to two recent games.

“Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined?” Smith wrote. “That makes sense …”

The league’s issue stemmed from Utah sitting Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire fourth quarter of games Feb. 7 at Orlando and Feb. 9 at Miami, despite the NBA stating both players were otherwise able to continue and that the outcomes were still in doubt.

Utah led Orlando by seven entering the fourth quarter and lost by three. Two nights later, the Jazz entered the final period up three in Miami and still won by four. The league determined both situations violated its competitive standards.

Jackson’s case is layered. He is set to undergo season-ending knee surgery over the All-Star break, and the Jazz initially wanted to shut him down immediately after discovering the issue during his physical.

Jackson reportedly pushed to play at least one home game first. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has reported similarly, calling the procedure preventive.

Sources told The Athletic that Jackson was on a 25-minute restriction, offering some explanation for his fourth-quarter absence. It does not explain Markkanen, and that is where the league drew its line.

The NBA also fined the Pacers $100,000 for violating the player participation policy in a Feb. 3 game against Utah after sitting Pascal Siakam and two other starters on the second night of a back-to-back.

Commissioner Adam Silver made the league’s stance clear in the release.

“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,” Silver said. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”

Smith disagrees. The league, clearly, does not.