In the NBA, not every franchise walks into a season with a legitimate shot at a championship. That’s just the reality of a league where star power often dictates success-and where small-market teams typically have a tougher time landing marquee free agents.
For those teams, the NBA Draft is still the most reliable path to acquiring elite talent. But with that comes a temptation that’s long haunted the league: tanking.
Adam Silver has been trying to tackle that issue head-on since he took over as commissioner in 2014. Back then, the Philadelphia 76ers were deep into their now-infamous “Process,” a multi-year strategy that leaned heavily into losing games to stockpile high lottery picks.
From 2014 to 2017, Philly landed a top-three pick each year. That stretch helped shape their current core-but it also sent a message to the rest of the league: this is one way to rebuild.
And while today’s tanking doesn’t always look as blatant as it did during the height of “The Process,” it’s still happening. Just ask the Utah Jazz.
In early February, the Jazz made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In back-to-back games on February 7 and 9, Utah benched key players-specifically Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen-in the fourth quarter, despite both being healthy and capable of impacting the outcome.
The move raised eyebrows, and the league didn’t wait long to respond. The NBA slapped the Jazz with a $500,000 fine, making it clear that this kind of behavior isn’t going to fly.
Silver addressed the situation directly with a strongly worded statement.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” Silver said. He added that the league is actively working with its Competition Committee and Board of Governors to explore additional measures to prevent similar conduct moving forward.
This isn’t the first time Silver has tried to get creative in combating tanking. One of his most notable moves was flattening the lottery odds-a change designed to reduce the incentive for teams to bottom out completely. And while that shift has led to some surprising results (like the Dallas Mavericks landing the top pick last year despite being a Play-In team, or the Atlanta Hawks doing the same the year before with slim odds), it hasn’t fully solved the problem.
So now, the league is exploring new territory. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, one idea being floated is to reward teams for winning-essentially flipping the incentive structure on its head.
“Whether it be rewarding teams in the standings with wins and not incentivizing teams to lose,” Marks said.
It’s a bold concept, one that would represent a seismic shift in how the league operates. And while it’s only a possibility at this stage, it underscores just how seriously the NBA is taking the issue of competitive integrity.
Of course, any new system would need to strike a delicate balance. The draft remains a lifeline for teams without superstar draw or deep pockets.
If the league tilts too far toward rewarding wins, it could leave rebuilding teams without a viable path forward. Silver knows that, and any changes would likely come with careful calibration.
What’s clear is this: the NBA isn’t content to let tanking quietly linger in the background. Silver and league officials are actively trying to reshape the incentives, protect the product on the floor, and maintain the integrity of competition. Whether that leads to sweeping changes this offseason or a more gradual evolution, the message is loud and clear-games are meant to be played to win.