NBA Urged to Adopt Promotion and Relegation to Curb Tanking

Radical proposal aims to incentivize winning over losing for NBA teams.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:43pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp planes of navy, crimson, and gold overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition that captures the energy and intensity of the sport.A radical proposal to introduce promotion and relegation could shake up the NBA's tanking problem and make the regular season more competitive.Today in Pittsburgh

The NBA has struggled with the issue of 'tanking' - teams intentionally losing games to secure higher draft picks. A new proposal suggests the league adopt a promotion and relegation system similar to European soccer, splitting the NBA into two tiers with the top teams in each tier competing for the league championship and the lower-tier teams vying to avoid relegation to the second tier. This would give all teams a strong incentive to win rather than lose, potentially making the regular season and draft more competitive and exciting for fans.

Why it matters

The NBA's current system of rewarding the worst teams with the highest draft picks has created a perverse incentive for some franchises to deliberately lose games in order to improve their chances of landing a top prospect. This 'tanking' phenomenon has led to some embarrassingly lopsided games and undermines the league's goal of parity. A promotion and relegation system could help address this issue by giving all teams a clear motivation to win.

The details

Under the proposed system, the NBA would be split into two tiers of 20 teams each, with the top 12 teams in the first tier competing for the league championship and the bottom 8 teams facing off in a relegation playoff to avoid dropping down to the second tier. The second tier would have its own playoff system, with the top 4 teams in each conference earning promotion to the first tier the following season. This would give even the worst teams in the league something to play for - avoiding relegation - rather than just tanking for a high draft pick.

  • The NBA has seen a record number of blowout games this season, with 81 decided by 30 points or more through early April.
  • The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets have been engaged in a race to the bottom, with both teams losing 20 of their last 21 games.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A top prospect expected to be selected early in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Victor Wembanyama

A highly touted French prospect who was the top overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

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What they’re saying

“The NBA isn't supposed to work this way.”

— Beau Dure, Author

“Desperate fans look to the draft for help, and they know that lower their team finishes, the more likely the team is to land a Victor Wembanyama or a Cooper Flagg.”

— Beau Dure, Author

What’s next

The NBA would need to work out the logistics of implementing a promotion and relegation system, including how to divide revenue, ensure roster flexibility for promoted teams, and market the second tier to maintain fan interest.

The takeaway

Adopting a promotion and relegation system could be a radical but potentially effective way for the NBA to address the tanking problem and create more incentives for teams to compete hard throughout the regular season. It would be a major shift from the current model, but one that could ultimately make the league more exciting and competitive for fans.