Draymond Green did not hold back.
The Golden State Warriors forward says the NBA has a tanking problem, and he believes it is hurting young players more than anyone wants to admit.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, Green criticized organizations that prioritize draft position over development. His concern goes beyond standings and lottery odds. It is about what happens to players who begin their careers in systems built to lose.
Green pointed directly to former No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor. Okafor entered the league in 2015 during Philadelphia 76ers‘ “Trust The Process” era. Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the Sixers posted records of 19-63, 10-72, and 28-54, stockpiling lottery selections including Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams, and Markelle Fultz. Only Joel Embiid emerged as a long-term franchise cornerstone.
“More often than not, you get the Isaiah Roby’s, you get Jahlil Okafor’s… they just fizzle out because they’re not taught proper techniques…
Green’s argument centers on development.
According to Green, when young players spend formative seasons in prolonged losing environments, bad habits become normalized instead of corrected. Later, when expectations shift on competitive teams, those gaps become exposed.
The NBA has already attempted to discourage tanking. In 2019, the league flattened draft lottery odds so the three worst teams each hold a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly acknowledged competitive integrity concerns while maintaining that rebuilding remains part of the league’s structure.
The tanking debate is not new, but the tension is rising
The Utah Jazz recently faced questions after limiting key players in fourth quarters of back-to-back road games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, despite competitive scorelines. No formal violation was announced, but the optics reignited conversation around roster management and draft positioning.
There are also success stories. The Oklahoma City Thunder executed a long-term rebuild centered on draft capital and player growth. That strategy culminated in a championship last summer after a seven-game Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, acquired during that rebuild, developed into an MVP-level star.
Green acknowledged that Oklahoma City’s model worked. But he maintains the broader issue remains unresolved.
“If you suck, you suck. Then you should get the pick…
The Warriors’ blueprint and the NBA’s next decision
The Warriors (29-25), currently eighth in the Western Conference, represent a contrasting blueprint. Their championship core was drafted while the franchise remained competitive, reinforcing Green’s perspective on development within winning environments.
The NBA has not announced additional anti-tanking measures beyond the lottery reform and recent player participation policies designed to preserve high-profile matchups. Any new draft penalties would require approval from the NBA Board of Governors.
As playoff positioning tightens and draft projections sharpen, Green’s comments add fresh urgency to a debate that touches every rebuilding franchise. The league continues searching for the right balance between long-term planning and protecting player growth.
This article is based on verified statements from The Draymond Green Show, official NBA draft lottery rule changes implemented in 2019, publicly available team records from 2014 onward, and historical Finals data. All statistics and timelines were cross-referenced with official league records.
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