NBA commissioner vows overhaul of draft rules to curb tanking
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NEW YORK — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that sweeping changes to the league’s draft system will be in place before next season, calling the elimination of tanking his “top priority.”
Speaking after a two-day Board of Governors meeting, Silver announced plans for a special owners meeting in May aimed at redesigning incentives that currently encourage lottery teams to lose games.
“We are going to fix it. Full stop,” the commissioner said, adding that the issue carries “business, basketball and integrity implications” that require an ownership-level decision.
The urgency behind the move
Concerns intensified this season because of a highly rated 2026 draft class and existing lottery odds that reward poor records. Silver said the league must draw a clear line between legitimate rebuilds and deliberate losing, noting that incremental tweaks made in recent years have not solved the problem.
“It’s become almost impossible to distinguish between a tank and a rebuild,” he said. “When incentives don’t match, we have to do something more extreme.”
Other topics from the meeting
Silver also addressed two statements issued Tuesday by the National Basketball Players Association:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: The NBPA voiced support for the Milwaukee Bucks star’s desire to return from a left knee injury that has sidelined him since March 15. Silver said the league was unaware of any dispute before the union’s release and will review the matter, adding that officials have not heard directly from Antetokounmpo.
- Cade Cunningham: The Detroit Pistons guard will miss the remainder of the season with a collapsed lung and, as a result, falls short of the 65-game minimum for postseason awards. Silver expressed sympathy but said the rule, adopted to curb load management, is “working as intended.”
WNBA leadership
Asked about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s future, Silver called her performance “fantastic” since taking over but said no recent discussions have been held regarding a contract extension.
The Board of Governors is expected to reconvene in May, when final draft-system recommendations will be presented for a vote.
Source: ESPN.com
