NBA Unveils New Anti‑Tanking Concepts Amid Skepticism

On Wednesday, Adam Silver declared the NBA would fix tanking, even banning an owner for life two months into his tenure. The next day, the league released three draft lottery concepts that aim to reduce intentional losing, but the proposals have been met with confusion and skepticism.

The ideas include flattening the odds from 14% to 8%, expanding the top picks to 6, 8, or 18, enlarging the pool to 18 or 22 teams, averaging records over two years like the WNBA, crediting a minimum win floor, a tiered 5‑by‑5 draw, and a pre‑lotto floor randomization. While each lever has merit, the lack of a finalized plan has left teams and fans uncertain about the league’s direction.