The NBA is on the brink of significant reforms aimed at curbing the practice of tanking, and the NBA Player’s Association (NBAPA) has added a bold proposal to the mix. While the commissioner’s office has put forward a trio of lottery-focused changes, the NBAPA is suggesting a game-changer: substantial financial incentives.
Currently, NBA teams split national TV revenue equally, but the NBAPA's proposal, as reported by Jake Fischer of The Steinline, takes inspiration from soccer’s English Premier League. The idea is to reward teams with an extra $10 million for each higher seed they achieve.
Whether this would apply within conferences or across the entire league from 1-30 isn’t clear yet. Regardless, this system could put $50-$100 million at risk for teams planning to tank, creating a powerful deterrent for owners.
The NBAPA is also advocating for a revamped lottery system. Their proposal aligns with one of the league’s own suggestions, expanding the lottery to include 18 teams.
The bottom 10 teams would have a 7% chance to move up in the draft, while the remaining eight teams would get a 3.75% shot at the top pick. Additionally, the union backs Commissioner Silver in granting him more authority to penalize teams that tank by reducing their lottery odds, moving their pick to the end of the lottery or first round, or even stripping them of a first-round pick entirely.
While it might be tough to see league owners agreeing to such a drastic change in revenue sharing, hitting teams where it hurts financially could be the most straightforward way to discourage tanking. This could be a pivotal moment for the league as it seeks to reshape its competitive landscape.