Shams CharaniaFeb 19, 2026, 05:12 PM ETMultiple Authors
Commissioner Adam Silver informed the league’s 30 general managers Thursday that the NBA plans to make anti-tanking rule changes for next season, sources told ESPN.
During his All-Star Weekend news conference, Silver said tanking has been “worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory” and that he was considering “every possible remedy” to combat the problem.
Earlier Thursday, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sounded off on the issue and called tanking “much worse than any prop bet scandal” in a lengthy post to X.
Last week, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000, saying both teams sat healthy players in recent games. The league noted that moves that compromise its integrity won’t be tolerated.
No longer allowing a team to pick in the top four in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes
Sources with knowledge of Thursday’s meeting as well as a late January competition committee meeting told ESPN that these concepts have been discussed to curb tanking:
Sources said Mike Krzyzewski, the senior adviser to basketball operations for the league office, delivered a message at Thursday’s meeting that there should be a prompt, tasteful “attack” on the problem and that all involved should be prepared to respond to what the league enacts in the coming months and year.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is livid over the amount of tanking right now in the NBA. (3:08)
Shams CharaniaFeb 19, 2026, 05:12 PM ETMultiple Authors
First-round draft picks can be protected only for top-four or top-14-plus selections
Lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date
Teams can’t pick in the top four the year after making the conference finals
Mad Dog fired up about tanking in the NBA (3:08)Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is livid over the amount of tanking right now in the NBA. (3:08)