Pascal Siakam Pushes Back After Pacers Fined for Player Participation Violation
The NBA issued a $100, 000 fine to the Indiana team after starters were held out of the second game of a back-to-back on Feb. 3 (ET), a penalty the league linked to efforts to improve draft positioning. Pascal Siakam, one of the rested starters, spoke publicly for the first time and rejected any suggestion he was part of a deliberate effort to lose.
Siakam: 'I want to be on the court'
Siakam told interviewers he was surprised by the implication that the team sat him to manipulate draft odds. "I don't know what that comes from, " he said. "I play almost every game. I play the most minutes. I'm the guy who wants to be on the court. I want to play. I sat in games when the medical side said, 'You need to sit. It's better for your body. ' I don't think it's any more than that. Every time I'm on the court, I'm trying to win. "
Those comments mark Siakam's first public response since the league announced the fine. As an All-Star or All-NBA player within the previous three seasons, he is covered by the Player Participation Policy, which gives the league authority to review medical information and other circumstances when a high-profile player is held out.
League officials emphasized the review can include interviews with team personnel and, if necessary, the player. Siakam stressed that his absences have been guided by the medical staff and framed as preservation of his long-term health rather than strategic benching for competitive advantage.
League cites tanking concerns, eyes draft lottery changes
NBA commissioner Adam Silver noted publicly that the fine stemmed from what the league described as actions aimed at improving draft positioning. The commissioner said the competition committee is reexamining how top draft picks are assigned and is exploring options beyond the current lottery structure in an effort to lessen incentives that may encourage losing late in the season.
The current lottery setup heavily weights the teams with the worst records, creating scenarios where a poorer record can increase the chance of securing a top-four pick and, by extension, a path to the No. 1 selection. League leaders acknowledged that those incentives can influence behavior and fan expectations, and any proposed changes would require a vote by team governors.
Context for the punishment and what it means for the team
The team has been dealing with roster instability since losing its star guard to a season-ending Achilles injury in the previous playoffs and then enduring further injuries this season. Siakam leads the roster in total minutes (1, 723) and has appeared in 51 games, missing four. He ranks 24th in the league in total minutes and eighth among players who have been All-Stars, underscoring his on-court workload.
Despite a late surge before the All-Star break, the team sits near the bottom of the standings and recently strengthened its frontcourt with an interior addition aimed at improving future contention when injured players return. That move, combined with the team's record, made drafting position a clear focus for management, complicating the optics when established starters were held out in a back-to-back.
The fine serves as a reminder that the league is watching how teams balance player health, competitive integrity, and long-term roster building. For Siakam, the public message was simple: he wants to play, he follows medical guidance when needed, and every time he takes the floor his priority is winning.
