Claim: The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy by sitting Darius Garland during a nationally televised game.

The issue occurred during back-to-back games played by the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 23 and 24, 2025. According to the Associated Press, Darius Garland, classified as a “star player” under the NBA’s Player Participation Policy, played in the home game against the LA Clippers on November 23 but did not play the next night against the Toronto Raptors. That November 24 game was nationally televised on Peacock in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada. The Cavaliers listed Garland’s absence as “Left Great Toe; Injury Management,” referencing a toe procedure he had in the offseason—information also noted by The Athletic.

After reviewing the situation, the NBA fined the Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy. The league’s official statement on NBA.com and reporting by the Associated Press confirmed the fine. The NBA decided that Garland was healthy enough to play in at least one of the back-to-back games and that sitting him specifically during a nationally televised game broke the rules requiring star players to appear for high-visibility broadcasts.

This was the Cavaliers’ second such fine under the current participation policy. On November 18, the NBA fined the team $100,000 for resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in a November 12 game against the Miami Heat, also reported by the Associated Press.

What do the NBA Rules Say?

The NBA’s Player Participation Policy, explained in a September 13, 2023, release on NBA.com: NBA Communications, defines a “star player” as someone selected to an All-NBA Team or an NBA All-Star team in any of the past three seasons. The policy requires teams to make star players available for all nationally televised and NBA In-Season Tournament games unless there is a valid, approved reason for absence.

Teams must also limit the number of unavailable star players to one per game, balance the rest between home and road games, avoid extended “shutdowns” of star players, and ensure any rested players are present and visible to fans at games.

Exceptions apply only for injury, personal reasons, or pre-approved rest based on a player’s age, workload, or injury history.

While the NBA’s official statement does not specify the fine amounts, independent reports such as Basketball News note that the penalty structure is $100,000 for a first violation, $250,000 for the second, and increases by $1 million for further violations.

Did the Cavaliers Break the Policy?

Darius Garland meets the NBA’s definition of a star player under the Player Participation Policy. Therefore, the Cavaliers had to make Garland available for nationally televised games unless they had a valid medical reason for his absence.

The November 24 game, broadcast on Peacock in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada, was a national telecast. The policy requires star players to appear in such games unless medically unable to play. Although the Cavaliers cited Garland’s toe injury, the league determined he was well enough to play in one of the two games and that resting him during the nationally televised game was not justified.

Because this was the Cavaliers’ second offense under the rule, the $250,000 fine corresponds to the policy’s escalating penalty system, as detailed by the Associated Press and announced on NBA.com.

Our Verdict: True

The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy by resting Darius Garland during a nationally televised game. The league’s official announcement on NBA.com and reporting by the Associated Press confirm the fine, which follows the policy’s rules on star player availability and its escalating penalties for repeat violations.

What the NBA’s Official Policy Says

The NBA’s Player Participation Policy clearly outlines the fines for violations. According to the league’s official policy release, published as a PDF on NBA.com: NBA Communications, teams that violate the rules are subject to escalating financial penalties. The document states:

“First Violation: The team will be fined 100000 dollars.
Second Violation: The team will be fined 250000 dollars.

Subsequent Violations: For each successive violation, the team will be fined 1 million dollars more than its previous penalty.”

Because the Cavaliers had already been fined earlier in the season, the $250000 fine issued for resting Darius Garland matches exactly what the official policy designates for a second violation. This aligns with the amount confirmed in the NBA’s announcement and in reporting by the Associated Press

Our Fact-Checking Sources

• Associated Press report on Cavaliers-Raptors fine: AP

• The Athletic on Cavaliers fine and Darius Garland injury: The Athletic

• NBA.com official statement on Cavaliers $250k fine: NBA.com

• NBA Communications on Player Participation Policy approval: PR.NBA.com

• Basketball News on NBA Board of Governors policy approval: BasketballNews.com

• NBA Player Participation Policy official PDF: PR.NBA.com PDF