NBA Commissioner Warns Wizards, Others About Tanking

Silver says he'll be watching teams that prioritize draft position over wins

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has made it clear he disapproves of teams like the Washington Wizards tanking to improve their draft position. Silver says he will be closely monitoring teams' behavior this season and is considering measures to discourage the practice, which he sees as disrespectful to the league's overall product.

Why it matters

Tanking has become a common strategy for struggling NBA teams looking to rebuild through the draft, but Silver views it as undermining the integrity of the league. His crackdown could have major implications for the Wizards and other teams prioritizing the draft over regular season wins.

The details

Silver criticized what he sees as "worse" tanking behavior this season compared to recent years. He said the league has already issued fines and will be "looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances" in terms of teams' actions. Silver has floated ideas like giving incoming rookies more freedom to choose their destinations, which would reduce the incentive for teams to tank.

  • The NBA's All-Star Weekend provided an opportunity for Silver to address the tanking issue.
  • Silver made his comments on tanking during media availability before the All-Star festivities.

The players

Adam Silver

The NBA Commissioner who has been outspoken in his disapproval of tanking tactics used by teams like the Washington Wizards.

Washington Wizards

An NBA team that has been accused of tanking in recent seasons to improve their draft position, a strategy Silver is now vowing to crack down on.

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What they’re saying

“Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we've seen in recent memory? Yes, it is my view, which is what led to those fines, and not just those fines, but to my statement that we're gonna be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams' behavior, and very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (si.com)

What’s next

Silver says the league will be closely monitoring teams' behavior this season and is considering measures to disincentivize tanking, such as giving incoming rookies more freedom to choose their destinations.

The takeaway

Silver's crackdown on tanking could have major implications for the Wizards and other struggling teams that have relied on the strategy to rebuild through the draft. The commissioner sees tanking as undermining the integrity of the league and is vowing to take a harder stance against it.