NBA Overreacts to One-Year 'Tanking' Phenomenon

Proposed draft reforms are an unnecessary response to an isolated issue, not a long-term problem for the league.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:10pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or draft lottery, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes that create a dynamic, abstract composition.The NBA draft's unpredictable nature and transformative potential are captured in a cubist-inspired illustration.Atlanta Today

The NBA is considering drastic changes to the draft process in response to the 'tanking' that occurred during the 2025-26 season, when a large number of teams purposefully lost games in order to improve their chances of landing a top pick in the highly anticipated 2026 draft class. However, experts argue that this was an isolated incident, not a pervasive long-term issue, and that the league should not overreact with sweeping reforms that could negatively impact the draft's appeal.

Why it matters

The NBA draft has long been one of the league's most exciting events, with the potential for transformative talents to emerge and rapidly improve struggling franchises. Overhauling the draft process in response to a one-year 'tanking' phenomenon could undermine this dynamic and make it even harder for teams to rebuild through the draft.

The details

During the 2025-26 season, a large number of NBA teams appeared to intentionally lose games in order to improve their chances of landing a top pick in the highly anticipated 2026 draft class, which was projected to be one of the best in decades. In response, the league is considering three major changes to the draft process, including extending the draft age limit, altering the draft lottery, and adjusting the draft order. However, experts argue that this 'tanking' was an isolated incident, not a long-term problem, and that the league should not overreact with sweeping reforms that could undermine the draft's appeal.

  • The 2025-26 NBA season just concluded.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft class is projected to be one of the best in decades.

The players

Adam Silver

NBA Commissioner, who has expressed concern over the 'tanking' issue and stated the league will 'fix it'.

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What they’re saying

“The problem we're having these days is it's become almost impossible to distinguish between the tank and rebuild. It's one that we take very seriously, and we are going to fix it: full stop.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

What’s next

The NBA is expected to consider and potentially implement changes to the draft process in the coming months, ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The takeaway

The NBA should be cautious about overreacting to a one-year 'tanking' phenomenon with sweeping reforms that could undermine the long-term appeal and excitement of the NBA draft, which has historically been one of the league's most anticipated and transformative events.