The NBA’s 3 anti-tanking proposals would only make things worse

NEW YORK CITY - MARCH 25: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media following the Board of Governors meetings on March 25, 2026 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Adam Silver loves to to quickly react to public outcry. Sometimes, it works: the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was fun and competitive with shorter games and a USA vs. The World format after years of drab and uncompetitive play.

The 65-game rule for award eligibility feels like more of a mixed bag: it does feel like some stars are resting less often to meet the threshold, but it also works against players like Cade Cunningham, who deserved a First-Team All-NBA spot this season but won’t get it because of an unfortunate collapsed lung late in the season. The NBA’s newest crisis is tanking , and Silver is ready to address it. The commissioner gave some tough talk earlier this week regarding tanking , telling the assembled press: “We are going to fix this — full stop.

Going into next season, the incentives (regarding the lottery and tanking) will be completely different than they are now. ” On Friday morning, the NBA dropped three anti-tanking proposals via ESPN insider Shams Charania . A vote is coming in May, and it’s likely to go into effect for the 2027 NBA Draft.