標籤: epidemic

Most people assume the NBA will do something to stop the massive tanking going on at the bottom of the standings. However, a new report suggests there isn’t much traction in the league for potential reforms.

Tanking is nothing new in the NBA. However, the 2026 NBA Draft is projected to be one of the best prospect classes in years, with nearly a dozen teams fully embracing the strategy in the final two minutes of the season. It’s gotten to the point where teams like the Utah Jazz have even inserted healthy impact players in the fourth quarter to ensure a loss.

This has disappointed NBA fans and infuriated Commissioner Adam Silver. Now, preventing the 2026 fight from happening in future seasons is a top priority for the governors, and late last month, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed three ideas to be presented at the next governors meeting in an effort to end the practice.

All three proposals expand the lottery to 18 teams and level the NBA lottery odds to varying degrees, and include other elements. Nevertheless, the trio of ideas is not gaining popularity in the game. “None of them have been embraced very warmly around the league,” sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.

General Manager explains why tanking works, even though it’s ugly

Slater’s new report details the current tanking drama and shows why many people associated with the idea hate the practice. This also includes coaches and players who want to improve their value before entering NBA free agency. However, while this practice is an ugly one, there are many around the game who feel it is a working formula, including one Western Conference general manager.

“These teams are doing a whole lot of work: sitting guys on fourth down, playing bad lineups analytically, setting up plays for bad shots,” the West GM told Slater. “Creativity is impressive, and I don’t blame them. It’s the best strategy for getting better.”

“Look at all the most promising teams in the league: the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, the Detroit Pistons, the Houston Rockets, the Charlotte Hornets. After years of being bad and building on high picks. It’s painful but worthwhile.”

For NBA fans and those inside the league who hate the growing practice of tanking, it certainly doesn’t seem like there’s much momentum behind making serious improvements any time soon.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos