The NBA fined the Atlanta Hawks $100,000 on Tuesday after an investigation determined that guard Trae Young may have played in an NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 12.
The Hawks listed Young on their injury report that night as out due to tendonitis in his right Achilles tendon. Atlanta ended up winning the game anyway 117-116.
The problem, the NBA said, was that the Hawks were violating the league’s player participation policy, which focuses primarily on what the league defines as star players, a group Young would qualify for since he was selected for the All-Star Game last time. season. According to the league’s rule, “unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not participating in a game,” it must have star players “for all national television and NBA Season Tournament games.” “.
“Following an investigation, including an independent medical review, the NBA determined that the Hawks kept Young out of a game in which he could have played under the policy’s medical standard,” the league said. “The organization’s conduct violated policy, which is intended to promote participation in the NBA regular season.”
That game against the Celtics is the only one Young has missed this season.
