NBA Commissioner Admits Efforts to Stop Tanking 'Not Working'

Silver says the incentives are misaligned and the league needs to take a 'fresh look' at the issue.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that the league's efforts to curb the practice of 'tanking' - where teams deliberately lose games to improve their draft position - are not working. Silver said the problem is getting worse, with teams increasingly sitting star players in the fourth quarter of games they are out of playoff contention. The league recently fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for 'conduct detrimental to the league' related to this issue, but Jazz owner Ryan Smith sarcastically responded that the team won one of the games they were accused of trying to lose.

Why it matters

Tanking has become a controversial issue in the NBA, as it goes against the competitive spirit of the sport and can diminish fan interest in games. The league has tried to disincentivize the practice, but Silver admits the current approach is 'not working' and that 'fresh thinking' is needed to address the problem.

The details

The NBA's annual draft allows the worst teams to have the first chance at picking the best young, amateur talent in hopes of boosting those clubs' fortunes. With losing equating to better draft position, teams have learned that if they're not in playoff contention, bottoming out could be the best path to restocking talent. The league has tried to address this by determining draft order via a weighted draft, so losing the most games doesn't automatically result in the first pick. However, Silver said he's not entirely sure that teams with the worst records are necessarily the most needy.

  • The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 this week for 'conduct detrimental to the league' related to sitting star players in the fourth quarters of consecutive games.
  • The 2026 NBA draft class is recognized as the best in recent years, with multiple names at the top of the board that could alter a team's future.

The players

Adam Silver

The commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Ryan Smith

The owner of the Utah Jazz NBA team.

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What they’re saying

“I think what we're seeing is a modern analytics, where it's so clear that the incentives are misaligned.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (nbcsandiego.com)

“We won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense.”

— Ryan Smith, Utah Jazz Owner (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

The NBA is expected to continue exploring ways to disincentivize tanking, including potential rule changes, to ensure the integrity of the league's competitive balance.

The takeaway

The NBA's tanking problem appears to be worsening, despite the league's efforts to address it. Commissioner Silver's acknowledgment that the current approach is 'not working' suggests the NBA will need to take more aggressive and innovative steps to curb this practice that undermines the sport's competitive spirit.