The Atlanta Hawks were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday after an investigation into whether guard Trae Young was able to play in an NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 12.
The Hawks placed Young on their injury report that night due to tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon. Atlanta won the game 117-116.
The problem according to the NBA is that the Hawks violated the player participation policy – which focuses primarily on what the league defines as star players, a group that Young is a part of since he was selected for the Game stars last season. According to league rule, “unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game,” the star player must be in uniform “for all televised games national and season tournament matches.
“After an investigation, including a review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played under the medical standard of the policy,” the league said. The organization’s conduct contravened the policy, which is intended to promote participation in NBA season games. »
The game against the Celtics was Young’s only miss this season.
