The controversial practice of teams deliberately losing to improve draft position—sparking ethical debates about competition and fan value.
Tanking Goes Mainstream
Teams had tanked subtly for years, but “The Process” 76ers (2013-2017) made it explicit. Other teams followed: Suns, Bulls, Knicks fielding terrible rosters to bottom out. By 2017-2018, multiple teams weren’t trying to win. Fans paid for tickets to watch teams deliberately lose. Was this smart rebuilding or mockery of competition?
Fan and Media Outrage
Fans felt cheated—tickets cost hundreds of dollars to watch teams tank. Media personalities like Charles Barkley railed against tanking as disgrace to competition. But analytics showed tanking worked—high draft picks were crucial to building contenders. Teams faced no consequences for losing—attendance barely mattered with lucrative TV deals.
League Interventions
The NBA flattened lottery odds (2019) to reduce tanking incentives—top three worst teams had equal lottery chances. But tanking persisted. MLB discussed lottery drafts. The NFL’s single-elimination playoffs meant less tanking. By 2023, tanking was accepted part of league strategy, though debates continued about whether leagues should punish it more harshly.
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