LOS ANGELES – Job security and prospects for a better future are driving NBA teams to engage in “tanking” earlier than usual this season, as many look to enhance their chances in the upcoming Draft lottery.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who rarely has to address tanking issues this early in the season, is now facing discussions that typically arise in late winter or early spring. Teams are keenly focused on the highly touted 2026 Draft, which is considered to be exceptionally promising this year.
In just the past week, Silver levied fines against the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for unethical player management, highlighting a rise in concern over tanking. During his annual press conference at All-Star Weekend, Silver openly acknowledged the issue.
“Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory? Yes, in my view,” Silver stated.
As teams focus on the “race to the bottom” for better lottery odds, fans have even begun supporting their teams’ losses. “They’re actually rooting for their teams, in some cases, to be bad,” Silver noted.
The Jazz received a hefty $500,000 fine for benching star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in critical game moments, while the Pacers were fined $100,000 for sidelining star forward Pascal Siakam and others, violating the Player Participation Policy.
Silver has signaled that any further actions compromising game integrity will be met with severer consequences, including potential loss of draft picks. The league is also reevaluating the current lottery system, acknowledging that its existing structure may incentivize losing rather than fair play.
