NBA’s bizarre ‘tanking’ problem has spewed theories but no solutions

March 10, 2026

TL;DR

The NBA faces a problem with teams 'tanking' to secure better draft picks, a situation described as bizarre yet logical.
Fines have been issued to teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for not using their best players.
Empirical evidence suggests teams have historically tanked by resting healthy players, especially after being eliminated from playoff contention.
This season, more teams are losing earlier, and there's a wider acknowledgment of the issue, with the NBA commissioner planning substantial changes.
The influx of four college superstars into the 2026 draft class has contributed to the 'perfect storm,' as future drafts are not perceived as strong.
While drafts are designed to promote parity in leagues without relegation, the NBA's incentives are stronger for teams to fail.
Being a middle-ranked team in the NBA is seen as the worst position, as teams are not good enough to contend but not bad enough to secure a generational talent.
Proposed solutions include preventing teams from having top-four picks for consecutive years or flattening the lottery odds.
The length of the NBA season and the lack of relegation are cited as contributing factors, though unlikely to change due to commercial pressures.
Ultimately, as long as losing is rewarded with higher draft picks, the incentive to tank will likely persist.

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