NBA Commissioner Targets Tanking with New Rules

NBA boss vows to end tanking ahead of draft 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver vows to tackle tanking with new rules by June, aiming to prevent teams from deliberately losing games to boost draft odds. A special board meeting is set for May to decide on changes.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver promises to tackle tanking with new rules by June, ahead of the NBA Draft...

NBA commissioner Adam Silver promises to tackle teams deliberately losing games to secure better draft picks, with a solution coming by June.

Euroleague Partnership on the Horizon

The NBA is looking to partner with Euroleague, FIBA, and European national leagues on a new competition, Silver revealed, aiming to boost global basketball cooperation.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke after the league's board of governors meeting, discussing expansion possibilities to Las Vegas and Seattle. Silver mentioned that no votes were taken regarding plans for a European league, but team owners were kept updated on the NBA's plans.

The meeting was an update on the NBA's ongoing discussions about potential partnerships, including the possibility of a new European competition involving the Euroleague, FIBA, and national leagues.

“For the betterment of European basketball, I think the best outcome would be if we came together with the European league and we came up with a systematic approach to growing the game throughout Europe,” Silver said.

“That means complementing the country leagues, working together with the Euroleague and working together with our federation, FIBA.”

The NBA's financial dealings for expansion are being handled by a different group of banks than those involved in the European League plans, according to Commissioner Adam Silver.

The European deal involves plans for 12 markets, with multiple partners being considered in each market, Silver revealed, indicating a complex and multifaceted approach to the new competition.

“There are 12 separate markets we're looking at at the moment,” Silver said. “Over 100 organizations are currently involved in this process.”

Silver said there is “enormous enthusiasm” over the project, adding, 

“We have ongoing discussions with the existing basketball infrastructure in Europe.”

Tanking is a major concern for the NBA this season, says Commissioner Adam Silver, with teams potentially throwing games to improve their draft odds. The NBA Draft has several top prospects, and teams are eager to land one of them, making tanking a pressing issue.

The Washington Wizards are on a 16-game losing streak, while the Indiana Pacers recently snapped a team-record 16-game losing streak with a win on Monday. Earlier this season, the Sacramento Kings also broke a 16-game losing streak in February.

Teams with the worst regular season records get the best shot at winning the NBA Draft lottery, giving them priority access to top new talent in June's draft.

Tanking Won't Fly Anymore

Silver says change is coming as the NBA board has a lengthy discussion on stopping teams from deliberately losing games to boost draft odds.

“This may be an unusual year because of the perception of a deep draft,” Silver said. “I would say that has combined with the inception of advanced analytics in all sports.”

Silver acknowledges the tough spot teams are in, understanding the risks and rewards that might lead them to tank 

“This meeting was not about pointing fingers at any team in particular. I understand where the incentives are and why it results in certain behavior,” Silver said.

Adam Silver says the NBA will have a “special meeting” in May to address tanking

"We are going to fix it, full stop... Incentives need to be fixed and we will fix them." pic.twitter.com/l4cMK8jJ3F

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 25, 2026

“It was unanimous in the room that we needed to make a change and we needed to make a change for next season.

“Exactly what that change is we're continuing to work on.”

Silver's expecting a special board of governors meeting in May to iron out changes, saying “so all the teams understand the rules of the road going into next year.”

Silver said the tanking issue has “business, basketball and integrity implications so it's one we take very seriously and we're going to fix it. Full stop. I want to say that to our fans.

“Incentives need to be fixed and we will fix them.”