NBA Commissioner Adam Silver admitted during a press conference that the league's efforts to curb tanking are failing, amid fines issued to teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers. Speaking at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, ahead of the All-Star Game, Silver highlighted misaligned incentives in the draft system and called for fresh thinking. He noted that tanking behavior appears worse this season than in recent memory.
On February 15, 2026, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the ongoing issue of tanking during a press conference at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the site of the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Tanking refers to teams intentionally losing games to secure better draft positions, a practice Silver described as increasingly problematic due to modern analytics and the structure of the NBA draft lottery.
Silver conceded that current measures to discourage intentional losses are ineffective. "What we’re seeing right now, is not working. There’s no question about it," he said. He pointed to the league's recent fines: $500,000 against the Utah Jazz for sitting star players in the fourth quarters of consecutive games, and $100,000 against the Indiana Pacers for violations of the player participation policy and conduct detrimental to the league.
The commissioner emphasized that the incentives are misaligned, with the worst-performing teams receiving the best odds for top draft picks, while middle-of-the-road teams suffer. "The worst place to be, for example, is to be a middle-of-the-road team," Silver stated. He questioned whether the 80-year-old league's approach remains relevant, suggesting a fresh look at the draft system introduced in 1985 and adjusted about five times since.
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded sarcastically to the fine, saying, "agree to disagree," and noting that one penalized game resulted in a win. Silver indicated the league is considering all remedies, including closer scrutiny of team behavior and potential long-term reforms to promote parity.
The 2026 draft class is viewed as one of the strongest in years, heightening the stakes for tanking teams seeking young talent.
