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DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 8: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers yells to the bench in the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on November 8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers were furious that they were fined $100,000 for violations against the Player Participation Policy for a game against the Jazz. Aaron Nesmith’s unavailability was scrutinized by the NBA. Head coach Rick Carlisle had a particular issue with that.
Carlisle alleged that the NBA wanted the Pacers to medicate Nesmith for him to play that game. That was something that infuriated him, and he called them out during his weekly radio interview. It was an explosive accusation that didn’t sit well with the league.
Now, the NBA has responded to Carlisle’s accusations involving Nesmith.
GettyIndiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith drives the ball. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The NBA Responds to Pacers’ Explosive Accusation
Before the Pacers took on the 76ers, the league released a statement regarding that accusation.
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate. An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General Manager and the team’s Senior Vice President, Sports Medicine and Performance, were interviewed as part of the process. The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league, and the team reported that an interview with Coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
Nowhere in that statement did the NBA address the allegation that they wanted Nesmith to be medicated. That is the most important part of what Carlisle alleged. All the league mentions in this statement is that the NBA didn’t need to talk to the team doctors.
The Pacers normally stay out of league matters, but Carlisle clearly thought this was important. Nesmith did not play against the 76ers and will be out at least a week with a different injury. Indiana continues to miss multiple key players with injuries, as they have all season long.
GettyIndiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith shoots the ball. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Pacers Need to Push the NBA Further
It’s clear that the NBA is starting to overreach in some aspects to try to curb the tanking issue. They fined the Jazz $500,000 for sitting players in the fourth quarter of a game. That puts them on a slippery slope of dictating how coaching staffs use their players in games.
The Pacers need to push the NBA further to explain the allegations for wanting the team to medicate one of their players to play injured in a game. That would be a player safety issue, which the NBA is supposed to be protective of. Indiana needs to push the league for answers.
It would not only help the Pacers, but it would help the other teams in the league who are concerned they could be the next target of a fine. Indiana will continue to protect its injured players for the remainder of the season as they pursue landing a top-four pick.
Ivica Zubac has yet to make his debut with the team. It looks like it will be a while before he officially suits up for the franchise.