Cleveland Hit With $250K Fine For Second Player Participation Violation
cavaliers-fined-250k-player-participation-violation-2025
NEW YORK — December 4, 2025 — The NBA has fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for breaching the league’s player participation policy, the league said Thursday in an official release.
The penalty stems from Cleveland’s decision to rest All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally televised matchup against the Toronto Raptors on November 24. Garland played the night before versus the Los Angeles Clippers in a non-televised game, a move the league ruled inconsistent with policy requirements.
Implemented in 2023, the player participation policy seeks to limit instances of healthy star players sitting out regular-season contests, with special emphasis on nationally televised games and NBA Cup fixtures. The policy outlines escalating fines:
• First violation: $100,000
• Second violation: $250,000
• Each additional violation: $1 million more than the previous fine
This marks Cleveland’s second offense of the 2025-26 campaign; the first took place last month. Under the policy, a “star” is defined as anyone who has been an All-Star or All-NBA selection in the previous three seasons.
The Cavaliers topped the Eastern Conference last season with a 64-18 record but have begun this year at 13-10, currently sitting seventh in the East while navigating multiple injuries.
Source: Hoops Rumors
