CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The NBA has fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy.
In a statement from the NBA, the violation occurred when the Cavs held Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley out of the team’s game against the Miami Heat on Nov. 12 without any injury designation.
The fine states that both Mitchell and Mobley are “star players” and the NBA ruled the Cavs didn’t meet the required criteria to keep them out.
The Player Participation Policy was adopted prior to the 2023-24 season and is intended to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season.
> The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy when the team held Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley out of the team’s game against the Miami Heat on Nov. 12 for rest.
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> — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) [November 18, 2025](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1990884509693178082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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