As Tanking Becomes More Visible, Steve Kerr Weighs in on NBA’s Growing Dilemma
SAN FRANCISCO - With the NBA calendar inching closer to the All-Star break, one storyline is starting to dominate the league’s back half: tanking. It’s not a new phenomenon, but this season, it’s becoming more visible - and harder to ignore - as teams jockey for position in what’s widely considered one of the most talent-rich draft classes in years.
Around the league, some front offices are making it clear that winning right now isn’t the top priority. In Utah, the Jazz recently added Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis, only to sit both Jackson and Lauri Markkanen late in a tight win over Miami.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, held out key players in their loss to Golden State. And in Washington, the Wizards - despite acquiring big names like Trae Young and Anthony Davis - are taking their time bringing either player back to the floor, seemingly content to rack up losses in pursuit of lottery gold.
It’s against that backdrop that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was asked about the tanking trend following a film session on Tuesday. While Kerr didn’t dive headfirst into the controversy, he offered a thoughtful, measured take - one that reflects both his experience and his respect for the game.
“It’s a great question,” Kerr said. “It’s really not for me to answer. I can tell you that we are in a position where we’re desperately trying to win - not only each game, but also to put ourselves in the position to be healthy for the playoffs.”
Kerr emphasized that Golden State’s situation is fundamentally different. With a veteran core that includes Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford, the Warriors are managing minutes not to lose games, but to keep their stars fresh for a postseason push.
“Sometimes, we go into a game thinking, ‘If we play him tonight, the repercussions on the other end could be really negative for us,’” Kerr said. “So, we’re actually in the habit of trying to preserve our guys for the betterment of our record.”
In other words, load management and tanking may look similar on the surface, but the intent couldn’t be more different. And Kerr, a nine-time NBA champion as a player and coach, understands how murky the conversation can get - especially when the stakes are this high.
He didn’t shy away from acknowledging the underlying truth: elite draft talent can change everything.
“You kinda have to get lucky in the lottery,” Kerr said. “That’s what makes this issue so tricky.
Great players - Steph, Tim Duncan, Wemby - they’re not just team-changing, they’re franchise-changing. They alter the trajectory of an organization for a decade or more.”
Kerr pointed out that while generational stars often go at the top of the draft, that’s not always the case. Steph Curry was the seventh pick.
Giannis Antetokounmpo went 15th. But the general belief remains - the higher you pick, the better your odds of landing a transformative talent.
“More often than not, the first pick has an opportunity to be that guy,” Kerr said. “And that’s what creates this issue.”
Asked if he believes tanking is more prevalent this season than in recent years, Kerr pointed to the league’s Play-In Tournament as a factor that had, until now, helped curb the trend.
“Ironically, the last few years, it seems like it hasn’t been at the forefront because of the Play-In,” he said. “More teams felt like they were in it. This year, it’s pronounced just because of the circumstances - injuries, rebuilds, that sort of thing.”
Kerr added that the league is well aware of the optics and is actively exploring ways to address the issue.
“I know the league is really concerned about it, as they should be,” he said. “It’s not good for the fans, for the league itself.
They’re considering everything. It’s a really tough issue.”
The Warriors, for their part, aren’t looking to the future - they’re trying to win now. That includes preparing for a showdown with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Golden State’s final game before the All-Star break.
Kerr has seen Wembanyama up close, both in the NBA and at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he didn’t hold back when asked to describe the 7-foot-5 rookie phenom.
“It’s the combination of the unique body type with the modern-day guard skills that a lot of these big guys have, but it seems even more extreme with him,” Kerr said. “His ability to dribble, pass, and shoot - but the size, the length - it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.
He’s got the whole package. He’s got all the attributes you want in a star player and a face of the franchise.”
As the Warriors await the return of Steph Curry, who’s working through a knee issue, there’s optimism that newly acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis could debut after the break. Kerr said Porzingis got in some three-on-three work on Tuesday and is trending in the right direction.
“He’s sticking around here for the All-Star break, so he’ll be in here working out,” Kerr said. “He was close to returning for Atlanta.
It’s one of the reasons we made the trade - our performance staff did their due diligence and felt like he would be on track to play shortly after the break. That’s still the hope, but it’s kind of a day-to-day thing.”
So while some teams are looking ahead to May’s lottery, the Warriors are focused on the now - managing minutes, getting healthy, and trying to build momentum heading into the stretch run. For Kerr, that’s the only direction worth moving.