Brian Windhorst Reveals Shocking Truths About Tanking and What’s Really Brewing Post-All-Star Break

When it comes to stirring the pot in the NBA, few topics ignite sparks hotter than controversial fines and the ever-persistent debate over tanking . This time, the Utah Jazz find themselves in the crosshairs, slapped with a hefty $500,000 penalty that has tongues wagging across the league. Alongside ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, we dive deep into whether financial punishments like this really pack enough punch to keep teams from sitting their stars — a question that’s as puzzling as it is contentious. But that’s not all; we unravel four foundational league principles that shed light on why every attempt to “fix” tanking hits the wall sooner or later — a saga as old as the game itself. Plus, as the playoffs loom, the heat turns up on the Western Conference with the Spurs creeping ever closer to challenging the Thunder, while the Eastern outlook buzzes with anticipation around Jayson Tatum’s inevitable return to the Celtics. And if that’s still not enough intrigue, Windhorst dishes out some behind-the-scenes gems from his days covering the Miami Heat and speculates on where LeBron James might have landed had the draft never been a factor. Buckle up—it’s a rollercoaster ride you don’t want to miss. LEARN MORE

Tom Haberstroh is joined by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to dig into the NBA’s $500,000 fine for the Utah Jazz and debate whether fines can truly deter teams from benching their stars. Windhorst breaks down four of the league’s core values to explain why proposals to “fix” tanking rarely last.

The duo also look ahead to the second half of the season as the Spurs continue to close in on the Thunder in the Western Conference and Jayson Tatum’s return to the Celtics in the East begins to feel inevitable. Don’t miss Windhorst’s behind-the-scenes stories about his time covering the Miami Heat with Tom and where LeBron might have landed if the draft didn’t exist.

(1:32) The Big Number: Jazz fined $500k

(4:23) How can NBA fix tanking?

(20:57) Would LeBron have gone to Cleveland without the draft?

(27:44) Is the Jazz fine unfair?

(36:08) Are Thunder vulnerable to Spurs in West?

(54:46) Should Tatum return for Celtics this season?