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Mon, March 24, 2025

Can the NBA fix tanking? Why it's worse this season, plus 5 solutions


Published on 2025-03-24 08:45:36 - ESPN
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  • Teams are getting really good at tanking. Can the NBA do anything more to stop it? Here's what's next for the race to the bottom.

The article from MSN discusses the ongoing issue of tanking in the NBA, where teams intentionally lose games to secure better draft picks, particularly aiming for a chance to draft Victor Wembanyama, a highly touted prospect. This season, tanking appears more prevalent due to the exceptional talent pool in the upcoming draft. The piece outlines several reasons why tanking has become more problematic, including the lack of competitive balance and fan disillusionment. To address this, the article proposes five solutions: 1) Lottery Reform - Flattening the odds so even the worst teams don't have a significantly higher chance of getting the top pick. 2) Incentivizing Winning - Offering additional draft picks or financial incentives for teams that perform well. 3) Salary Cap Adjustments - Implementing harsher penalties for teams that fall below a certain win percentage. 4) Draft Pick Flexibility - Allowing teams to trade future draft picks more freely to encourage long-term planning over tanking. 5) Cultural Shift - Promoting a culture where development and competition are valued over tanking, possibly through league-wide initiatives or changes in how success is measured. The article concludes that while no single solution is perfect, a combination of these strategies might mitigate the tanking problem.

Read the Full ESPN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/basketball/can-the-nba-fix-tanking-why-it-s-worse-this-season-plus-5-solutions/ar-AA1BxJAY ]

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