Recent YORK – As the 2025-26 NBA season winds down, the specter of “tanking” – deliberately losing games to improve draft position – has once again gripped the league, prompting a stern response from Commissioner Adam Silver. While his predecessor, David Stern, was known for a more authoritative approach, Silver has generally favored a collaborative style. Still, recent developments have led him to seize a firmer stance, signaling a potential overhaul of the NBA draft system.
The issue came to a head during a recent meeting with all 30 NBA general managers, where Silver reportedly delivered a pointed message about the detrimental effects of prioritizing draft positioning over competitive play. Sources indicate the GMs were surprised by the intensity of Silver’s remarks, delivered during a session initially framed as a brainstorming opportunity. Silver, speaking at the Sloan Conference, promised “substantial changes” to the draft process next year, though a complete revolution of the system appears unlikely.
Any significant changes to the draft require the approval of a majority of the league’s franchises, and a complete separation of draft order from team performance doesn’t currently seem feasible. As Silver explained, the current system of draft pick protections – allowing teams to safeguard their selections in trades – creates perverse incentives. “When you have arbitrary limits for protections (of traded draft picks), it creates huge incentives to be, for example, the sixth-worst record rather than the fifth,” he said, according to reports.
The league is currently evaluating several potential solutions, but Silver emphasized a distinction between legitimate team rebuilding efforts and deliberate attempts to lose games. He acknowledged that young teams genuinely trying to improve and develop players shouldn’t be penalized, but expressed concern over strategies focused on long-term tanking, such as the situation recently observed in Utah. “There are legitimate reconstructions, with young teams trying sincerely to win games. They are there to win, night after night,” Silver stated. “There are also situations with some teams…where they want to see young players evolve in game conditions, while the wins are not as important. I do not consider that the kind of ‘tanking’ that we are currently seeing.”
This year’s draft is proving to be a particularly potent catalyst for tanking, with a consensus emerging that it features an unusually high concentration of potential franchise-altering talent. “This season, it’s a bit of a perfect storm, with a draft perceived as very rich,” Silver admitted. “Again, I say ‘perceived’ because the predictions of scouts are often wrong. But there’s a feeling that there are four players in particular, maybe five, who can really change the game for a franchise. Add to that the fact that the forecasts for the next two years will not be as good in terms of talent, and you create a huge incentive for teams to sabotage their season.”
Silver also noted a shift in societal attitudes towards tanking, suggesting that the practice is becoming less stigmatized. This confluence of factors – a strong draft class, a weak upcoming talent pool, and changing perceptions – has created a challenging environment for the league to maintain competitive integrity.
The NBA’s struggle with tanking isn’t new. David Stern, who served as commissioner from 1984 to 2014, also grappled with the issue, but his approach was often more direct and forceful. Stern oversaw a period of significant growth for the NBA, expanding its global reach and establishing it as a major international sport. His legacy is one of strong leadership and a commitment to protecting the league’s image. Silver, who served as Stern’s deputy for many years, inherited a league built on Stern’s foundation, but has navigated a different landscape, marked by increased player empowerment and a more complex media environment.
Currently, seven potential anti-tanking measures are being discussed, including protecting first-round picks only if they fall within the top four or top fourteen, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline, preventing teams from picking in the top four in consecutive years, and allocating lottery odds based on a two-year record. Flattening the odds for all lottery teams is also under consideration. An adjustment to protected picks appears to be the most straightforward solution, but gaining consensus on a comprehensive plan remains a significant hurdle.
The situation highlights the inherent tension within the NBA: the desire to foster competitive balance while allowing teams the flexibility to rebuild. Finding a solution that addresses both concerns will be crucial to maintaining the league’s long-term health and appeal. The league is walking a tightrope, attempting to disincentivize losing without unduly punishing teams that are legitimately rebuilding through player development and strategic roster moves.
As the regular season concludes, all eyes will be on the NBA’s competition committee as they weigh the various proposals and attempt to craft a solution that will curb tanking and restore competitive integrity to the league. The next major checkpoint will be the announcement of any rule changes before the 2026-27 season, a decision that will undoubtedly shape the future of the NBA.
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