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last mo.

NBA Fines Cavaliers $100,000 for Resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley

The first-offense penalty highlights the rule limiting teams to resting only one healthy star in any game.

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs are heavy home favorites vs. the Knicks in Tuesday's Eastern Conference showdown.
Image
Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) drives to the basket beside Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots in the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The league said Cleveland violated the Player Participation Policy by listing both players out for rest in the Nov. 12 road game at Miami, the first leg of a back-to-back.
  • Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley qualify as “star” players under the policy, which was adopted in 2023-24 to discourage load management in regular-season play.
  • Teams may rest only one healthy star per game, and the Cavaliers could have avoided punishment by sitting one player on each night of the back-to-back.
  • Cleveland won in Miami without the pair, and head coach Kenny Atkinson later defended the decision, pointing to a dense stretch of 15 games in 27 days.
  • The fine is $100,000 for a first violation, escalating to $250,000 and higher for repeat offenses, as some observers argue the rule incentivizes ambiguous injury designations over transparent rest.