Examining the NBA's Tanking Problem: Incentives and Solutions
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TurboCharged
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Soldier 2024
Feb 16, 2026
13:00
The recent video on tanking highlights a persistent issue impacting competitive integrity. While teams are incentivized to optimize for lottery picks, this strategy often results in diminished on-court product quality for several seasons. A critical examination of the current lottery system suggests it may not sufficiently deter tanking. Perhaps a reform focusing on flattening lottery odds further, or even integrating a European-style relegation system for the bottom teams (though highly improbable in the NBA structure), could foster more consistent effort across the league. What metrics should be prioritized to genuinely reward competitive play over strategic losses?