The NBA Unveils a Revolutionary Proposal to Combat Tanking
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The NBA has taken a decisive step in its fight against tanking by unveiling on Tuesday its proposed reform dubbed the « 3-2-1 lottery. » This new system, which is set to be put to an owner vote on May 28, completely transforms the traditional lottery approach by penalizing teams with the worst records.
The proposal extends the lottery from 14 to 16 teams and introduces a « relegation zone » for the three worst records in the league. These teams would receive only two lottery balls instead of three, reducing their chances of landing the first pick to 5.4% compared to 14% currently. In contrast, the seven teams ranked between 4th and 10th place would each receive three balls, giving them an 8.1% chance of obtaining that coveted 1st pick.
A Complex System to Discourage Racing to the Bottom
Commissioner Adam Silver was clear about his intentions: « We should have a system where you should hate losing. It should not be a badge of honor. Losing should be uncomfortable. » This philosophy is reflected in a sophisticated mechanism where the losers of the 7-8 play-in games receive one ball (2.7% odds), while the 9th and 10th seeds receive two (5.4%).
The league also wants to introduce safeguards against accumulating advantages: no team will be able to win the first pick in two consecutive years or obtain three consecutive top-5 picks. The NBA is also granting itself expanded disciplinary authority to punish tanking, by reducing lottery odds or adjusting draft positions.
This season particularly motivated the reform, with five teams — Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis and Brooklyn — posting winning percentages below 18% after the All-Star Break, something never seen before in NBA history. League executives had also fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for « conduct detrimental to the league. »
Silver had warned in March that solving the tanking problem was his top priority: « This is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level. It has business, basketball, and integrity implications for the league. We are going to fix this problem. Period. » The proposed system, if adopted, would expire after the 2029 Draft, requiring a new vote for its extension or modification.
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