Adam Silver Pushes Through Bold NBA Anti-Tanking Plan
The NBA is officially shaking up the draft lottery in a major way. After months of debate about tanking, league owners approved a brand-new system that changes how teams compete for the No. 1 overall pick starting with the 2027 NBA Draft.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver had been vocal about fixing the league’s tanking problem, and now the NBA is rolling out what many are calling the new “3-2-1” lottery format. The updated system will stay in place through at least 2029 before the league decides whether to keep it.
What Changes Under the New NBA Lottery System?
The biggest twist? Every one of the 16 lottery teams now has a chance to land the top pick.
Here’s how the lottery balls will be handed out:
- Bottom three teams get only two lottery balls each
- Seven non-playoff teams that miss both the playoffs and play-in receive three lottery balls
- Teams finishing 9th and 10th in the play-in get two lottery balls
- Losers of the 7-8 play-in games receive one lottery ball
The NBA clearly wants teams competing harder late in the season instead of racing to the bottom for better odds.
New Restrictions Aim to Stop Repeat Tanking
The league is also adding strict new rules:
- No team can win the No. 1 overall pick in back-to-back years
- Teams cannot land a top-five pick three straight years
- Protected picks between No. 12 and No. 15 will no longer be allowed
Those changes are designed to stop franchises from staying stuck in rebuilding mode year after year.
NBA Could Punish Teams for Tanking
Silver’s push didn’t stop with lottery odds. The league is expected to gain stronger disciplinary power against teams accused of intentionally losing games.
Possible penalties may include:
- Reduced lottery odds
- Changes to draft positioning
- Additional league discipline for repeated tanking behavior
Back in March, Silver made his stance crystal clear, saying the NBA would “fix” tanking once and for all. Thursday’s vote was the result of months of meetings between team owners, general managers, the competition committee, and league executives.
Now, the NBA is betting this aggressive new system will keep more teams competitive and make the regular season far more meaningful.
