Cavaliers fined $100K for player participation violation

Field Level Media|published: Tue 18th November, 16:33 2025

NBA: New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers

Apr 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) wait along side head coach Kenny Atkinson to enter the game during the first half against the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday after All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley missed last Wednesday's 130-116 loss to the Miami Heat.

The absence for both players was listed as "rest" on the official box score, with the league imposing the fine as a violation of the Player Participation Policy.

One of the stipulations of the policy, which was updated in 2023, states that teams must "ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game."

Mitchell, 29, has missed two games this season while averaging 30.9 points with 5.5 assists in 13 games played. The six-time All-Star has averaged 24.9 points with 4.7 assists in 552 games (544 starts) in nine seasons with the Utah Jazz (2017-22) and Cavaliers.

Mobley, 24, has only missed one game this season. An All-Star for the first time last season, Mobley has averaged 18.9 points with 8.8 rebounds in 14 games on the court this season. In five seasons, all with the Cavaliers, he has averaged 16.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 283 games (all starts).

--Field Level Media

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