Tanking is yet again at the forefront of NBA discussion, which is usually the case this time of year. It is a bit different this season, however, because of just how many teams will be tanking—and there is no longer a limit on how blatant they’re willing to be in their efforts to lose games. The 2026 NBA draft is expected to be overflowing with elite talent at the top of the order and there are multiple teams at risk of losing their first-round pick if they do not finish near the bottom of the standings. The combination of factors is expected to lead to the most audacious race to the bottom in recent memory and has already resulted in Adam Silver levying a big fine on the Jazz for their tanking activities before All-Star Weekend.
On Thursday, with the last stretch of the 2025–26 season set to tip off after the break, Suns owner Mat Ishbia decided to give his thoughts on the NBA’s tanking crisis. Suffice to say he thinks it’s the single biggest issue facing the league today.
