Untrustworthy! NBA sends independent medical experts to verify Markkanen's injury amid suspicions that the Jazz are deliberately tanking.

On February 26th Beijing time, Jazz reporter Jones revealed that the NBA plans to send independent medical professionals to Utah to assess Markkanen’s hip injury from practice, ensuring the Jazz are not purposely losing games.

In recent weeks, the NBA has closely monitored the Utah Jazz’s handling of injuries, even imposing a hefty $500,000 fine because the Jazz rested key players like Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of a close game while they were supposedly healthy.

Jackson ultimately underwent season-ending surgery to remove proliferative tissue from his left knee. Meanwhile, recent reports indicate Markkanen was injured during training and may miss an extended period—potentially sitting out the remainder of the Jazz’s season.

Sources say the NBA is highly displeased with the timing and circumstances surrounding Markkanen’s injury.

Given the Jazz’s consistent approach to injury management over recent seasons, the league’s vigilance is unsurprising. Even so, the Jazz argue that their actions stem from a league rule structure that effectively encourages such behavior.

No fan would deny that the Jazz are currently blatantly tanking.

If their first-round draft pick this year falls outside the top eight, that pick will belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While not a devastating loss, the Jazz clearly prefer to keep this asset to select a player for long-term development rather than strengthening a rival team.

Still, the Jazz are merely playing within the existing rules. As the saying goes: don’t hate the player, hate the game.

It’s clear the NBA must implement reforms to curb tanking, but until the rules change, the Jazz should not face such harsh penalties.

Jones also reported that the Jazz are extremely angry about the $500,000 fine from the NBA. The team believes the league is singling them out, while resting key players in crucial games is a common tactic among all tanking teams.

Jones wrote that although the Jazz have been tanking for years, they originally planned to make at least one championship-level trade, but the deal fell through after the player’s agent informed the team that the player preferred to join another franchise.