Building on December 2025 proposals, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered a stern warning against tanking to all 30 general managers during a February 19 video call, declaring that 2026-27 incentives would focus solely on winning amid reforms targeting draft lottery manipulations, recent fines, and concerns over sports betting credibility.
The NBA convened a video call with its 30 general managers on February 19, 2026—around All-Star Weekend in Inglewood—led by executive vice president Evan Wasch, to advance anti-tanking reforms for the 2026-27 season. Sources described broad agreement that intentional losses undermine league integrity, with Silver vowing at All-Star events to explore 'every possible remedy' including a draft lottery overhaul.
Proposals, building on December Board of Governors discussions, included limiting traded pick protections to top-4 or late-round ranges, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline, banning consecutive top-four picks, preventing conference finalists or bottom-three finishers from top-four selections the next year, basing odds on two-year records, expanding the lottery to include Play-In teams (up to eight), and flattening odds across non-playoff teams. The goal: make targeted tanking mathematically ineffective.
Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks questioned the timing, noting multi-year rebuilds could face mid-cycle penalties. Silver responded directly: "I would just say, Sean, you could assume for next season your only incentive will be to win games." Executives noted a shift from Silver's usual diplomacy, likening his tone to predecessor David Stern. He also addressed front office-coach alignment on tanking teams, saying coaches 'don’t want to do this' and only feign support under pressure, emphasizing a need to change incentives and mindsets for job security.
Mike Krzyzewski praised the GMs' engagement, while an anonymous GM admitted, “We’re all to blame.” The push ties to legalized sports betting, where tanking disrupts markets and erodes trust. Recent fines underscore enforcement: $500,000 to the Utah Jazz for benching Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in competitive games against Orlando and Miami, and $100,000 to the Indiana Pacers after listing healthy Pascal Siakam as out. Further penalties, like draft pick losses, loom.
Tanking swirls around the loaded 2026 draft featuring prospects like Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer, with insiders estimating nearly a third of teams deprioritizing wins. Suns owner Mat Ishbia called it a “disgrace,” while Mavericks' Mark Cuban suggested embracing it for fan hope. Silver concluded: "This is not who we are going to be as a league."
Reforms require Board of Governors approval, potentially in March, amid philosophical debates on competitive balance.
