NBA Tanking: Adam Silver considering fines up to $10 million
A new anti-tanking proposal in the NBA could give Commissioner Adam Silver the power to fine franchises up to $10 million and strip them of Draft picks
The NBA is preparing to introduce what could become a major regulatory overhaul aimed at permanently eliminating tanking – the practice of intentionally losing games to secure a higher Draft selection.
After introducing the new 3-2-1 Lottery system earlier this April, league offices have circulated a new and much stricter proposal among franchises that would significantly expand Commissioner Adam Silver’s disciplinary powers beyond the sanctions already in place.
According to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, the details of the anti-tanking plan show Silver’s intention to eliminate any strategy built around intentionally reducing competitiveness.
The NBA intends to implement these restrictions to promote an equitable distribution of talent
Mike Vorkunov
That language appears directly in the league’s official document. The restrictions would apply only to each franchise’s original Draft selection, regardless of whether that pick is retained or traded.
That means, for example, that a team would not be prohibited from landing the No. 1 pick in consecutive years if the first selection originally belonged to another franchise and the second came from its own Lottery outcome.
Owners are scheduled to vote on the proposal Thursday, and while the language could still undergo modifications, the current draft would provide Silver with unprecedented authority to punish violators.
The Commissioner would have the ability to issue fines of up to $10 million, force teams to forfeit or transfer Draft picks, reduce their Lottery odds, alter Draft positioning or even suspend franchise executives.
The 3-2-1 or “credit-based” system
The 3-2-1 system, first introduced a few weeks ago, will remain in place for three seasons through the 2029 NBA Draft – the year when either the league or the players association could exercise an opt-out clause in the collective bargaining agreement. Beyond 2029, however, the most discussed idea among league executives is a credit-based system, which the NBA is expected to begin studying in greater detail immediately after this reform is approved.
While the goal of maintaining maximum competitiveness across the league is understandable, expanding the Commissioner’s authority to this degree inevitably raises questions regarding the management of internal league justice.
Powers this broad – especially direct authority to suspend executives – could become a double-edged sword if not balanced by a clear oversight system. If team owners ultimately approve the proposal, including safeguards that ensure transparency and accountability from the league office in New York would seem like a reasonable next step.