Radical Advice For The NBA: Promote Incentives, Relegate Tanking

Cooper Flagg poses on the red carpet prior to the 2025 NBA Draft. Getty Images The NBA regular season is headed toward a thrilling conclusion, with one overriding question: Can the Washington Wizards hang on to last place in the league? Their position seemed secure with a 14-game losing streak in the fall that dropped their record to 1-15, but a stretch of competent basketball raised their record to 10-25.

They rebounded with a nine-game losing streak but went 6-5 over their next 11 games. With a heroic effort, the Wizards have lost 20 of their last 21 (through April 1) to surpass the Brooklyn Nets, who have lost 21 of their last 24 heading into Friday’s near-certain loss to the surging Atlanta Hawks. On Sunday, all eyes will be on Brooklyn, when the Wizards visit in a game that, according to NBA rules, one team must win.

If nothing else, perhaps the Wizards-Nets game will be competitive. Over their 21 games of misery, the Wizards have lost 12 games by more than 15 points, including nine by 20 or more and three by more than 30. Even their lone win, over the similarly woeful Utah Jazz, was a 23-point rout.

The Nets have lost four games by more than 30 in the last five weeks. Both teams’ results have contributed to a historic season in the league. With a couple of weeks to spare, the league saw its record-setting 81st game decided by 30 points or more.