Adam Silver says draft lottery overhaul should make losing ‘uncomfortable’
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The NBA is moving closer to a draft-lottery format that reduces incentives to tank, commissioner Adam Silver told the league’s Competition Committee during a recent call, according to ESPN reporter Shams Charania.
“We should have a system where you should hate to lose,” Silver said on the call. “It shouldn’t be a badge of honor. Losing should be uncomfortable.”
The proposal under discussion would flatten the odds for non-playoff teams and add stronger penalties for the clubs with the league’s worst records. League officials believe the change would keep more franchises competitive deeper into the regular season by limiting the potential reward for late-season losses.
Support for reform has grown among team executives, though some decision-makers worry the plan could go too far. The NBA’s stated aim is to make every game meaningful and reduce deliberate roster downgrades designed to secure higher draft positions.
The idea of discouraging tanking has been an ongoing priority for the league, but Silver’s recent comments underscore an increasingly direct stance: teams should feel the consequences of defeat rather than view it as a strategic benefit.
Source: Hoops Wire
