NBA, New Anti-Tanking Rules on the Way: Adam Silver’s Plan

The NBA is taking a firm stance against tanking – and this time it appears ready to change the rules in a structural way.

According to ESPN, commissioner Adam Silver informed all 30 general managers that new anti-tanking measures could go into effect as early as next season.

A strong signal delivered during a meeting described by multiple sources as particularly direct in tone.

NBA vs. Tanking: A Turning Point Ahead?

In recent months, internal league discussions have intensified. The NBA office, along with the board of governors and the competition committee, has been debating potential changes since December to protect competitive integrity.

During All-Star Weekend, Silver had already admitted that tanking had been “worse than in recent years,” assuring that he was evaluating “every possible remedy.” Now those words appear to be turning into concrete action.

Sources present at the latest meeting described a commissioner “determined” to solve the issue. Even Mike Krzyzewski, now a senior adviser for league basketball operations, reportedly urged swift and decisive action, calling for a “timely and tasteful attack” on the problem.

Proposed Changes: How the NBA Draft Lottery Could Shift

Among the proposals discussed in recent weeks are several scenarios that could reshape the NBA Draft Lottery:

• First-round picks could be protected only within the top 4 or beyond the 14th selection
• Lottery odds could “freeze” at the trade deadline
• Teams could be barred from selecting in the top 4 in consecutive years
• No top-4 eligibility for teams finishing among the bottom three in two straight seasons
• Exclusion from the top 4 for teams that recently reached the Conference Finals
• Lottery odds assigned based on a two-year cumulative record
• Extending the lottery to include play-in teams
• Complete flattening of odds among all lottery teams

Some of these ideas directly target the logic of “lose today to win tomorrow.” In particular, banning consecutive top-4 picks or assigning odds based on a two-year record would make it far less appealing to deliberately dismantle a roster in pursuit of a single disastrous season.

Fines and Controversy: The Suns Case and Recent Penalties

The issue has also heated up publicly. Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia labeled tanking “far worse than any gambling-related scandal”, voicing his stance in a lengthy social media post.

Meanwhile, the NBA has already sent concrete signals: a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz and $100,000 to the Indiana Pacers for resting healthy players in recent games. The league reiterated that decisions compromising the integrity of competition will not be tolerated.

Why the NBA Fears Tanking

Tanking isn’t just a technical matter – it’s a perception problem. When a franchise appears uninterested in competing, the damage extends to fans, sponsors and broadcast partners.

The league now faces a crossroads: continue with marginal adjustments or radically intervene in the lottery structure. The coming weeks will determine the direction chosen.

One thing is certain: the NBA no longer wants the race for the No. 1 pick to become an openly declared strategy.