The NBA's tanking problem has become a full-on epidemic, with teams across the bottom third of the league engaging in an arms race to lose as much as possible to increase their lottery odds for a loaded draft. This season, the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder have all been involved in tanking strategies, with the Jazz signing Andersson Garcia and Bez Mbeng to 10-day contracts and playing them significant minutes, despite their lack of impact. The Grizzlies have started 25 different players this season, and the Thunder signed non-NBA level talents to close out the 2021-22 season, giving them 40-minute roles for the final four games.
In my opinion, the NBA's tanking problem is a result of the league's focus on the draft and the desire to build a winning team through high picks. However, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that teams are often more concerned with their draft position than with winning games. As a result, players are often benched or played in meaningless games, and teams are incentivized to lose to improve their draft position.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the way in which tanking has become a popular strategy across the league. Teams are using creative strategies, such as sitting players in the fourth quarter and drawing up plays for bad shots, to maximize their chances of losing and improving their draft position. This has led to a situation where the average margin of victory in NBA games is 13.1 points, and a record 89 games have been decided by 30 or more points.
From my perspective, the NBA needs to take action to curb tanking. The league has presented three comprehensive solutions to its board of governors, but none of them have been embraced with much warmth around the league. The trouble for the league is the wide array of opinions on what exactly is the best fix, and the fact that many of the favored concepts are extremely difficult to explain simply to the casual consumer.
One thing that immediately stands out is the need for the NBA to address the incentives for tanking. Teams are often more concerned with their draft position than with winning games, and this needs to change. The league should consider implementing a system where teams are rewarded for winning and penalized for losing, rather than the current system where teams are rewarded for losing and penalized for winning.
What many people don't realize is that tanking has a trickle-down impact on the league. It's not just the teams that are actively tanking that are affected, but also the players and coaches who are caught in the crossfire. Tanking can force players out of the picture in March, February, or even January, and it can be extremely frustrating for them. As a result, the NBA needs to find a way to address the issue of tanking while also supporting the players and coaches who are affected by it.
In conclusion, the NBA's tanking problem is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to address. The league needs to take action to curb tanking, while also supporting the players and coaches who are affected by it. Only then can the NBA truly move towards a more sustainable and competitive future.
