The NBA's Proposed Anti-Tanking Reforms Could Backfire Spectacularly
The league's proposals could inherently punish legitimately terrible teams by decreasing their chances of getting out of the league's basement in a timely fashion.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) Getty Images On Wednesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver pledged that the league is going to make reforms to its draft-lottery system to reduce teams' incentive to tank.
"Certainly going into next season, the incentives will be completely different than they are now," Silver told reporters. On Friday, details emerged about what might be forthcoming. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania , the league presented "three comprehensive anti-tanking concepts to its board of governors," although modifications are expected to each proposal "before a formal vote in May.
" All three would expand the lottery to include teams that make the postseason, but they diverge from there. While each of the three proposals could help curb tanking, they might also backfire spectacularly when it comes to the overall purpose of the draft lottery. What Changes Is The NBA Considering?
Under the current system, the 14 teams that miss the playoffs all get slotted into the lottery in reverse order of the standings. The teams with the three worst records all have a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, and the odds decrease from there .
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