Is the NBA Cracking Down on Tanking?
The pursuit of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is the ultimate goal for every NBA team, but a growing trend of strategically losing – often referred to as “tanking” – has prompted the league to consider significant changes. The practice, where teams intentionally underperform to improve their odds in the NBA draft, is raising concerns about competitive integrity and fan engagement. The NBA finds itself navigating a delicate balance: preserving the excitement of the game while discouraging teams from sacrificing wins in pursuit of future talent.
The Allure of the Draft and the Rise of Tanking
The NBA’s draft system, with its potential to land a franchise-altering player, is the primary driver behind tanking. Unlike other major North American sports leagues, a single player in basketball can exert a disproportionately large influence on a team’s success. A star player typically sees around 70% of game action during the regular season, and even more during the playoffs. This contrasts sharply with leagues like the NHL, where even Connor McDavid, arguably the best hockey player in the world, is on the ice for roughly 38% of a game. In the NFL, a quarterback’s success is heavily reliant on a strong offensive line, and in MLB, even elite pitchers need consistent offensive support.
The recent success of the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs exemplifies the potential rewards of tanking. Detroit, after finishing with the worst record in the league in 2020-2021, secured the first overall pick in the 2021 draft and selected Cade Cunningham. Five years later, the Pistons are a top team in the Eastern Conference. Similarly, the Spurs finished near the bottom of the league in 2022-2023, allowing them to draft Victor Wembanyama, who has quickly develop into a pivotal player, propelling the Spurs to a strong position in the Western Conference.
The logic is straightforward: the more games a team loses, the higher its chances of securing a top pick in the draft. Teams often achieve this by limiting the playing time of their best players, even when healthy, or by resting multiple stars simultaneously. This strategy has become so prevalent that star player participation has declined significantly. According to a recent report by the Washington Post, players now participate in approximately 65% of their team’s games, a 21% decrease compared to a decade ago.
The League’s Response and Growing Concerns
This decline in star participation hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fans who purchase tickets expect to see their favorite players on the court, and broadcast networks, which have invested billions of dollars in NBA broadcasting rights, also demand star power. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recognizes the issue and is actively seeking ways to disincentivize tanking and restore competitive balance.
The league has already taken some steps to address the problem. In 2019, the NBA expanded the draft lottery to include a fourth team, increasing the odds that teams with slightly better records could still land a top pick. The probability of the team with the worst record securing the first overall pick was reduced from 25% to 14%.
More recently, the NBA implemented a rule requiring players to participate in at least 65 of 82 regular-season games to be eligible for end-of-season awards, which directly impact player salaries. Teams also face substantial fines if they rest multiple star players in the same game, particularly during nationally televised contests.
But, these measures haven’t been entirely effective. Some general managers remain determined to accumulate losses in the short term, hoping to reap the rewards of a high draft pick in the long run. This is particularly true in years with exceptionally talented draft classes, like the current one.
The Utah Jazz recently faced a $500,000 fine for what the league described as “conduct detrimental to the league” after preventing Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. From playing in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic, seemingly to increase their chances of losing. This incident underscored the seriousness of the issue and prompted Commissioner Silver to convene a special meeting of the Board of Governors in May to discuss further measures.
Potential Changes on the Horizon
According to ESPN, the league is considering several proposals to discourage tanking. One possibility is expanding lottery access to include teams that participate in the play-in tournament – those finishing between the seventh and tenth seeds in their respective conferences.
Another proposal involves capping the probability of obtaining the first overall pick at 8% for each of the ten worst teams in the league, or establishing the odds based on a team’s performance over the past two seasons. The exact details of any changes remain to be finalized, but Commissioner Silver has made it clear that he is committed to preserving the integrity of the NBA.
The question remains whether these changes will be enough to dissuade teams from pursuing a strategy that, while controversial, has proven successful for franchises like the Pistons and Spurs. The league faces a challenge in balancing the desire for competitive balance with the inherent incentives of the draft system.
The NBA’s ongoing efforts to address tanking highlight the complex dynamics at play in professional sports. The league is attempting to navigate the tension between short-term gains and long-term sustainability, all while striving to deliver an exciting and competitive product for fans. The decisions made in the coming months will have a significant impact on the future of the league and the way teams approach roster building.
The next major checkpoint will be the Board of Governors meeting in May, where the proposed changes will be discussed and potentially approved. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching to see how the NBA responds to this growing challenge.
What are your thoughts on the NBA’s efforts to combat tanking? Share your opinions in the comments below!
