NEW YORK – The NBA is bracing for significant changes to its draft system, a response to escalating concerns over teams intentionally losing games – a practice known as “tanking” – to improve their odds in the upcoming draft. Commissioner Adam Silver made a firm commitment Wednesday to address the issue, signaling a potential overhaul ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
“Here’s something we take exceptionally seriously, and we are going to fix it,” Silver stated following a two-day Board of Governors meeting. The league’s owners recognize the demand for action, with Silver emphasizing the business, basketball, and integrity implications at stake. The urgency stems, in part, from the anticipation surrounding the 2026 draft class, widely considered to be exceptionally talented.
Three Revolutionary Proposals Presented to Owners
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the NBA presented three distinct proposals to the Board of Governors aimed at curbing tanking, with a key element being the potential inclusion of playoff-qualified teams in the draft lottery process. This represents a significant departure from the current system.
The NBA presented three comprehensive anti-tanking concepts to its Board of Governors on Wednesday, with modifications expected to each before a formal vote in May, per ESPN sources.
1. 18 teams in draft lottery (seeds 7-15 in each conference) – flattened odds, with bottom 10…
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 27, 2026
The first proposal would expand the lottery to include 18 teams – those seeded 7th through 15th in each conference. Eight of those teams would be those already qualifying for the play-in tournament, representing franchises still actively competing. The bottom five teams (seeds 11-15) would each have an 8% chance of securing the top pick, while the remaining 20% of the odds would be distributed among the eight play-in teams. This aims to disincentivize losing for teams already in playoff contention.
A second proposal would broaden the lottery field to 22 teams, adding the four teams eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. This system would rank teams based on their combined record over two seasons, similar to the WNBA’s approach, and would establish a minimum win threshold for participation. This approach attempts to reward consistent competitiveness over a longer period.
The third proposal utilizes a “five-by-five” method, granting the five teams with the worst records equal odds in a lottery for the top five picks. A second lottery would then determine the order for the remaining 13 teams. This would create a more level playing field among the league’s bottom feeders.
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Special Meeting in May to Finalize Changes
The NBA’s urgency is underscored by the scheduling of a special Board of Governors meeting in May, an unusual step for the league. Silver stressed the importance of a deliberate approach, acknowledging the difficulty in distinguishing between legitimate rebuilding efforts and intentional tanking. “There’s an aspect of team building that we call a real rebuild, an integrity-driven rebuild,” Silver explained. “The problem we have is that it’s become almost impossible to distinguish tanking from rebuilding.”
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These potential changes come at a time when the NBA is experiencing a competitive balance, with approximately 20 teams still vying for playoff spots. This contrasts sharply with the teams accused of deliberately losing to improve their position in the 2026 NBA Draft. The league is clearly aiming to address a growing concern that threatens the integrity of the game and the competitive spirit of its franchises.
The Board of Governors meeting in May will be crucial in determining the final shape of the new draft lottery system. While the specifics remain under discussion, Silver’s commitment to “fixing” the tanking problem is clear. The outcome will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future of the NBA and the strategies employed by teams looking to build for the future.
The NBA has not yet announced a specific date for the May meeting, but teams can expect to be informed of the new rules well in advance of the offseason. This will allow franchises to adjust their strategies and approach the upcoming season with a clear understanding of the draft lottery landscape.
Fans can follow updates on the NBA’s official website ([https://www.nba.com/](https://www.nba.com/)) and ESPN ([https://www.espn.com/nba](https://www.espn.com/nba)) for further developments.
