The False Promise of Tanking and Why the Knicks Can't Avoid It

Losing on purpose doesn't lead to long-term NBA success, as recent champions have shown.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The article argues that tanking, or purposefully losing games to get a higher draft pick, is not an effective strategy for building a successful NBA team. It points to recent NBA champions and finalists who were not built through high draft picks, but rather through smart drafting, trading, and free agent signings. The author cites examples of stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, and Giannis Antetokounmpo who were not top draft picks, yet led their teams to championships.

Why it matters

This story is relevant because the New York Knicks, a historically struggling NBA franchise, have often resorted to tanking in recent years in hopes of landing a superstar in the draft. However, the data shows that this strategy rarely leads to long-term success, and the Knicks may need to rethink their approach to building a championship contender.

The details

The article notes that in the last 20 NBA Finals, not a single MVP was drafted with a top-4 pick by their team. It cites examples of recent champions built through smart drafting and trading, rather than tanking, including the Thunder, Celtics, Nuggets, Warriors, Bucks, and Lakers. The author argues that while there are exceptions like Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, the general trend shows that tanking is not a reliable path to building a winner.

  • The article was published on February 19, 2026.

The players

Gregg Popovich

The longtime head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who the author credits as being the "Godfather of tanking, load management and condescension toward the media".

Tim Duncan

The NBA legend who was drafted 1st overall by the Spurs in 1997, one of the few exceptions where a top draft pick led to a championship.

LeBron James

The superstar who won championships with both the Cavaliers and Lakers, though the author notes he doesn't count as a top draft pick since he left Cleveland before re-signing.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star guard who was acquired by the Thunder in a trade, not drafted high, and has led them to success.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics star who was drafted with a pick acquired in a trade, not a high draft pick.

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What they’re saying

“The irony of tanking is it doesn't work.”

— Stefan Bondy, Author (nypost.com)

The takeaway

This story highlights the flaws in the Knicks' long-standing strategy of tanking to try and land a superstar in the draft. The data shows that building a championship team is more about smart drafting, trading, and free agent signings than simply losing on purpose. The Knicks may need to rethink their approach if they want to end their decades-long title drought.