The NBA is facing a serious tanking issue this season, according to league commissioner Adam Silver. He discussed this topic during All-Star weekend and mentioned that he is exploring various solutions.
NBA seeks resolution for tanking problem
Finding a solution won’t be easy.
Silver noted that there’s pressure from the media and fans for teams to avoid being mediocre. If a team isn’t in the championship race, there’s a strong incentive to lose games to improve their chances of getting a top draft pick.
This season’s draft class includes several standout prospects, which further encourages teams to aim for losses. It’s possible to find a franchise player without needing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, given the talent available.
The situation has escalated, leading Silver to fine the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers due to questionable lineup decisions.
The draft lottery was designed to prevent this type of strategy.
Clearly, it hasn’t been effective enough.
Silver pointed out that the extreme measures taken by teams might distort perceptions of which teams are truly the worst. The top draft picks should go to the teams that need the most help, but tanking complicates that process.
From ESPN:
“If teams are manipulating their performance to secure better draft picks, then the question arises… are they genuinely the worst teams?” Silver said. “It’s not clear that the 30th team is significantly worse than the 22nd, especially if there’s a motive to perform poorly for a better draft pick.”
“It’s a bit of a puzzle. The All-Star [Game] is 75 years old, the league is 80 years old. It’s time for a fresh look at the system.”
This is going to be a challenging problem to resolve.
The recent fines of $500,000 and $100,000 are insignificant for billion-dollar franchises, especially if it leads to acquiring a potential star player. Team owners would likely pay those fines without hesitation.
Drastic measures may be needed to effectively address this issue.
Options could include stripping draft picks from repeat or blatant offenders, or potentially moving them lower in the draft order for evident tanking. Silver mentioned that reducing draft picks is a possibility.