NBA Plans Crackdown on Tanking for Next Season

League considers changes to draft lottery odds and eligibility

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The NBA is preparing to implement new rules to address the issue of tanking, where teams intentionally lose games to improve their draft position. Proposed changes include protecting lottery picks only in the top four or top 14, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline, and preventing teams from picking in the top four in consecutive years or after consecutive bottom-three finishes.

Why it matters

Tanking has become a controversial practice in the NBA, with teams prioritizing draft position over winning. The league views this as undermining the integrity of competition and is seeking to disincentivize the behavior through rule changes.

The details

According to reports, the NBA is considering several rule changes to address tanking, including: protecting lottery picks only in the top four or top 14, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline or a later date, preventing teams from picking in the top four in consecutive years or after consecutive bottom-three finishes, and basing lottery odds on two-year records rather than just the current season.

  • The NBA discussed these potential changes with general managers this week and in January.
  • The league recently fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for violating the player participation policy, which commissioner Adam Silver said undermines the integrity of NBA competition.

The players

Adam Silver

The NBA commissioner who said the league needs to implement "fresh thinking" to address the issue of tanking, which he views as undermining the foundation of NBA competition.

Mat Ishbia

The Phoenix Suns owner who ripped tanking as "loser behavior" in a social media rant.

Mark Cuban

The Dallas Mavericks minority owner who wrote on social media that the "NBA should embrace tanking."

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What they’re saying

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (NBA press release)

“We've got to look at some fresh thinking here. What we're doing, what we're seeing right now is not working. There's no question about it.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (NBA press conference)

“Tanking is loser behavior.”

— Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Suns Owner (Social media)

What’s next

The NBA's Competition Committee and Board of Governors will work to implement further measures to address tanking, with the goal of having new rules in place for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

The NBA's crackdown on tanking highlights the league's desire to maintain the integrity of competition and discourage teams from prioritizing draft position over winning. While some team owners have embraced tanking, the league is seeking to find a balance that incentivizes on-court success while still providing opportunities for struggling teams to improve through the draft.