The 2026 NBAis submerged in a controversial strategy has gone from being an open secret to becoming a crisis of integrity: tanking. This phenomenon occurs when franchises deliberately reduce their chances of winning games in order to worsen their record and thus obtain a better position in the NBA Draft.
The logic is purely economic and based on rebuilding: by finishing in the bottom positions, teams increase their mathematical probabilities of obtaining one of the top three selections, but this is eroding the television product and the trust of fans who believe they are not watching the highest level, all with the objective of altering draft positioning.
Utah’s “sabotage” and Adam Silver’s warning
The most flagrant case this season occurred with the Utah Jazz. In a recent game against the Miami Heat, head coach Will Hardy benched his three best players (Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurki) for the entire fourth quarter, despite the team leading on the scoreboard. When asked if he considered putting them back in, his response was a blunt “no.”
This behavior seeks to protect Draft picks. For example, Utah’s first-round selection for 2026 is top-8 protected; if they fall to No. 9, the pick goes to Oklahoma City. This creates a perverse incentive to lose at all costs.
Steve Kerr’s opinion: ethics vs. survival
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors and winner of nine championships, has been one of the most critical yet realistic voices on the issue. Kerr acknowledges that tanking is “terrible for the fans and for the league,” but understands the systemic dilemma.
- The Luck Factor: Kerr points out that the lottery system forces teams to chase “luck,” since elite players like Steph Curry or Giannis Antetokounmpo change not only the scoreboard, but the financial future of an entire city for decades.
- Preserving the Show: While Kerr fights to get his veterans into the playoffs, he watches with frustration as other teams “throw in the towel” before the All-Star Game. For him, it is a competitiveness issue that Adam Silver must resolve with harsher punitive measures.
A cry in the desert: teams ignoring the criticism
Despite fines imposed by the league (such as the $750,000 dollars to Dallas in 2023), organizations continue to ignore the warnings. Teams like the Washington Wizards have acquired stars such as Anthony Davis and Trae Young, only to keep them off the court under “nebulous” recovery schedules.
Similarly, the Indiana Pacers delayed Ivica Zubac’s debut citing injuries that did not appear in previous reports. While commissioner Adam Silver seeks diplomatic solutions, franchises have made it clear that financial fines are a small price to pay for the chance to draft the next generational superstar.
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