NBA Tanking Concerns Grow as League Considers New Rules

Concerns about tanking in the NBA — intentionally losing games to secure a better position in the draft —have intensified in recent seasons and that may now be bringing about some changes for the league.

The strategy has long been controversial because of the possibility of undermining competitive integrity and reducing the quality of play for fans. Criticism of the practice has only increased as the league has embraced sports betting and currently has partnerships with FanDuel and DraftKings.

As several rebuilding teams prioritize future draft picks over wins, league officials and team owners have increasingly called for reforms to discourage the practice.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged that tanking has become an issue and may be taking action. He believes the problem is “worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory.”

In response, the league has begun exploring potential rule changes that could reshape how the draft lottery works and remove incentives for teams to deliberately lose.

Adam Silver’s Proposed Solutions

Silver and the NBA’s competition committee have discussed several proposals aimed at reducing tanking and encouraging teams to compete throughout the entire season.

Among the ideas being considered are flattening the lottery odds. That means the worst teams would no longer receive significantly better chances at the top pick than other lottery teams. Some other possibilities include:

• Freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline – Teams would no longer benefit from losing games late in the season after their playoff hopes fade.
• Limiting top picks in consecutive seasons – The league is also considering rules to prevent teams from picking in the top four in consecutive seasons or after multiple years finishing near the bottom of the standings.
• Adjusting lottery odds – The plan would allocate lottery odds based on two-year team records.
• Expanding the draft lottery – This would include play-in teams.
• Adjusting trades – The league may limit how teams protect their first-round picks in trades.

The league has already begun cracking down on questionable behavior. The Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers were recently fined after the NBA determined they violated player participation rules by sitting healthy players in games, raising suspicions that they were attempting to improve draft position.

Why Tanking Happens

The NBA’s current draft lottery system was designed to promote parity by giving weaker teams better chances at acquiring young talent. However, this structure can create incentives for struggling teams to lose intentionally to maximize their odds of landing a top pick.

Even with the lottery in place, the worst teams still have the best statistical chance of securing the No. 1 pick, although the system does not guarantee it. The three teams with the worst records each receive a 14% chance of landing the top selection in the draft.

As the NBA continues discussions about anti-tanking reforms, the league faces a delicate balance. It must preserve competitive fairness while still allowing struggling teams opportunities to rebuild through the draft.

Impact on NBA Betting Markets

Tanking also creates complications for the NBA betting. When teams intentionally rest key players or field weakened lineups, it can dramatically affect point spreads, totals, and other betting markets.

Late-season games involving teams suspected of tanking can be especially unpredictable. Bettors must evaluate not only team talent but also organizational strategy, lineup decisions, and player participation.

When star players are unexpectedly benched, sportsbooks often move betting lines quickly, creating volatility in the market.

For bettors, tanking can create both risks and opportunities. While uncertainty increases, informed bettors who closely track team motivations, injury reports, and lineup changes may be able to identify value before sportsbooks fully adjust odds.