NBA's anti-tanking lottery reforms have not improved results for the league's worst teams
The NBA enacted major lottery reforms ahead of the 2026-27 season to remove incentives for intentionally losing, with many expecting the changes to compress the standings and help the worst teams become more competitive. According to the report, the opposite has occurred: the number of teams with just one win through roughly eight games has doubled from three to six compared to the same point last season, and blowout losses have become more frequent. The Chicago Bulls, cited as the worst team in the league, carry a net rating of -17.6, well beyond the worst mark recorded at the same stage last year. The report notes it is too early to fully evaluate the reforms, but concludes that bad teams are still losing badly and that the expectation that new incentives alone would spur improvement appears increasingly unfounded.
The idea that they would simply pull themselves up due to new incentives is looking pretty flimsy.
Why it matters
For coaches: Coaches of bottom-tier teams face heightened scrutiny as poor records persist even after the tanking era formally ended.
For media: Early-season data complicates the narrative around the NBA's lottery reform, giving analysts and reporters a contested storyline to track all season.
For athletes: Players on rebuilding rosters may face extended losing seasons despite the league's structural changes intended to reward competitiveness.
Read the full story at Sporting News
Sources
- Sporting News · Stephen Noh: NBA's anti-tanking rules are not having the desired effect of making bad teams win more games