Adam Silver Sounds the Alarm on Tanking, Talks Expansion and More at All-Star Weekend
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - With the NBA season hitting the home stretch, the league’s commissioner isn’t mincing words. Adam Silver took center stage at All-Star Weekend and made it clear: the league is watching, and it's not happy with what it's seeing - especially when it comes to tanking.
As the playoff picture begins to take shape, a full third of the league appears to be leaning into the idea of losing now to win later. Why?
Because this year’s draft class is being touted as one of the deepest in decades - a potential goldmine of franchise-changing talent. And that’s led to some eyebrow-raising decisions from teams trying to improve their lottery odds.
“Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory? Yes, is my view,” Silver said during his annual All-Star Weekend press conference. That frustration has already turned into action, with the league handing down fines - including a $500,000 penalty to the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz drew scrutiny after sitting key players - including Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. - in the fourth quarter of close games. That’s not just resting stars on a back-to-back.
That’s pulling the plug with the game still hanging in the balance, and the league took notice. Utah lost one of those games to Orlando after leading much of the way; Miami couldn’t complete the comeback in the other, but the message was clear: something didn’t sit right.
Silver was quick to clarify - the players aren’t the problem. They’re giving full effort when they’re on the floor.
Coaches, too, are doing their jobs. The issue lies with front offices making the call to limit minutes, sit players entirely, or stretch injury timelines in the name of long-term gains.
The league’s options are limited, but Silver says they’re not standing still. “We’re going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams’ behavior,” he said. “We very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice.”
This isn’t just about fairness - it’s about the product. When teams field lineups that aren’t built to compete, fans notice. And some, as Silver pointed out, are even rooting for losses, knowing that a few extra ping-pong balls could mean the difference between a superstar and another year in the middle of the pack.
“Many of you have written, understandably, that the worst place to be is a middle-of-the-road team,” Silver said. “Either be great or be bad, because then that will help you with the draft.”
That mindset - while logical from a team-building standpoint - is a problem for the league. It erodes competitive integrity and puts the spotlight on a system that might be overdue for a rethink.
To that end, Silver said the league is taking a two-pronged approach. First, it’s dealing with what’s happening right now - closely monitoring team behavior and issuing penalties when necessary. Second, the Competition Committee is already reexamining how the draft lottery works.
“Ultimately, we need a system to fairly distribute players,” Silver said. “But we’ve got to look at some fresh thinking here. What we’re doing, what we’re seeing right now is not working; there’s no question about it.”
Could that mean more drastic measures, like stripping draft picks from teams that cross the line? Silver didn’t rule anything out. “There is talk about every possible remedy now to stop this behavior,” he said.
Expansion on the Horizon - But Not Just Yet
Tanking wasn’t the only topic on the table. Expansion - a conversation that’s been simmering for years - is starting to pick up steam. Silver confirmed that 2026 remains the target year for making decisions, but don’t expect any announcements when the league’s Board of Governors meets in March.
“At the March Board of Governors meetings, we’ll be having further discussions around an expansion process,” Silver said. “We won’t be voting at the March meeting, but we will likely come out of those meetings ready, prepared to take a next step.”
That next step? Engaging with potential ownership groups and identifying which cities the league wants to target.
The favorites - Seattle and Las Vegas - are hardly secrets. Both have strong ownership interest and NBA-ready markets.
But Silver emphasized that this process is about more than just geography. It’s about value, infrastructure, and long-term fit.
“There’s some work to do in terms of potential conference realignment,” Silver added. “That’s the next step there.”
As for relocation - the idea that an existing team might move to one of those cities - Silver shut that door. “Relocation is not on the table right now,” he said.
Other Headlines from Silver’s Presser
- Clippers Investigation: Silver declined to offer a timeline or details on the ongoing investigation into the Clippers, noting that it’s being handled by an independent law firm. “I haven’t come to any decisions whatsoever yet,” he said. “I am completely beholden to the constitution and the CBA.”
- Giannis and Kalshi: When news broke that Giannis Antetokounmpo had invested in Kalshi - a prediction market where users can place contracts on events like trades - it raised some eyebrows. Could a player profit off speculation about his own future?
Silver addressed it head-on, saying Giannis’ stake is under 1% and therefore within league rules. “That does not violate the rules that have been collectively bargained with the Players Association,” Silver said.
The Bottom Line
Adam Silver made one thing clear: the league is watching - and it’s willing to act. Whether it’s tanking, expansion, or player investments, the NBA is navigating a lot of moving parts right now. And with a potentially game-changing draft class on the horizon, the pressure is on to get things right.
The next few months could shape the future of the league - not just who wins the title, but how the NBA defines fairness, competition, and growth for years to come.