Topic / Subject
Per ESPN, the NBA plans to enact new anti-tanking rule changes next season after Adam Silver met with general managers.
TL;DR
ESPN reports the NBA is preparing new anti-tanking rule changes for next season, but the exact final package and timeline aren’t locked yet.
Key Details
- Report: Adam Silver told NBA GMs the league plans anti-tanking changes for next season (per ESPN)
- Concepts mentioned: adjustments to lottery/pick mechanisms and limits aimed at discouraging repeated top-4 outcomes (per ESPN/People)
- Status: Ideas are being discussed with stakeholders; final rules are not yet confirmed (per ESPN)
Breakdown
The NBA is saying the quiet part out loud: tanking is a bigger issue than ever, and the league wants new deterrents next season.
Per ESPN, the concepts being discussed include tweaks to how picks are protected or how lottery mechanics work, plus guardrails meant to reduce repeated “top-4 again” outcomes. People’s write-up frames similar themes, but the key point right now is timing and certainty: this is a plan-in-motion, not a finalized rulebook.
Why it matters: even small lottery tweaks can change front-office strategy, trade value for protected picks, and how aggressively teams choose to “develop” instead of “compete” late in seasons.
What to Watch Next
- Which proposal (if any) gets formal approval and when
- Whether changes hit immediately for the next draft cycle or start later
- How enforcement would work in practice (penalties, thresholds, audits), if included
Sources:
ESPN — anti-tanking changes (sources)
People.com — overview of proposed concepts
Comment:
Would you rather see stricter penalties, or a full lottery format change?


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