Silver admitted that the current system incentivizes teams to not try to win or actively try to lose, a phenomenon more common in the NBA but also occurring in the NFL. Teams like the Raiders allegedly shut down star players Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers in the final weeks of the 2025 season to secure the No. 1 overall pick.
While the Raiders obtained their desired draft position, they may have permanently lost Crosby in the process. The commissioner emphasized that with legalized gambling on the rise, ensuring full game integrity requires completely aligning incentives across all teams.