The NBA fined the Atlanta Hawks $100,000 on Tuesday after an investigation determined that guard Trae Young could have played in an NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Nov. 12.
Atlanta Hawks listed Trae Young as out against the Boston Celtics due to tendinitis in his right Achilles
Atlanta listed Young on its injury report that night as out because of tendinitis in his right Achilles. The Hawks defeated the Celtics 117-116 in that matchup. However, the NBA said Atlanta was in violation of the player participation policy (PPP).
According to the NBA’s PPP, the rule defines a star player as any player who, in any of the prior three seasons, was selected to an All-NBA Team or an All-Star team. Young would qualify since he earned an All-Star selection last season.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/Bu0A3GwFSG
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 26, 2024
By league rule, “unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game,” it must have the star players “for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games.”
“Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played in under the medical standard in the policy,” the league said.
“The organization’s conduct violated the policy, which is intended to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season.”
NBA allows pre-approved designated back-to-back allowances for veteran players, or those with 34,000 regular-season minutes
Additionally, no more than one star player can be unavailable for the same game. The league allows pre-approved designated back-to-back allowances for players who are 35 years old on opening night.
Other exceptions include players with career workloads of 34,000 regular-season minutes or 1,000 regular-season and playoff games combined. Those such veteran stars are given pre-approved designated back-to-back allowances.
Young, 26, isn’t old enough and hasn’t logged enough minutes to be an exception.
First-time offenders of the PPP are subject to a fine of $100,000. A $250,000 fine is issued for the second violation, followed by $1.25 million for a third violation. A team will be fined $1 million more than its previous penalty for any violations beyond the third.
Through 17 games (all starts) this season, Young is averaging 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and career highs of 11.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest while shooting a career-low 38.5% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point territory.
Atlanta’s Nov. 12 matchup with Boston is the only game Young has missed this season.
