Adam Silver Looks at Tanking As a Serious Issue

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is looking at tanking as a serious issue in the league.

The NBA is looking to double down on teams planning to tank and lose more games this season. According to an article written by Baxter Holmes of ESPN, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league is tracking potentially-tanking teams, mentioning that this is a “serious issue” that the league executives are talking about on a regular basis. Adam Silver cited the possibility of relegating teams to the G League, the same structure that soccer leagues implement. However, he also said that relegation has its own issues, as it will just destabilize the business model of the NBA.

Teams are anticipating the arrival of French prospect Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 center who is expected to be the top overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama, who will turn 19 in January 2023, is as versatile as you would want from a big man. He has a very long wingspan and mobility that allows him to cover all bases on defense. On offense, Wembanyama can put the ball on the floor and make shots for himself, even from the perimeter. His two-way skill set as a center is what makes him a generational talent that NBA teams would want to have for years to come.

Wembanyama’s potential entry to next year’s draft has sparked speculations that more NBA teams will purposely lose games this season to have higher chances of landing the 1st overall pick. The French center took center stage during the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021, although his team lost to an American squad bannered by Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, and Kenneth Lofton Jr.