NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered certainly one of his most direct acknowledgments but that the league’s incentive system will not be functioning as supposed, saying tanking is worse “than we’ve seen in latest reminiscence” and warning that “each attainable treatment” is now on the desk.
Talking at his annual All-Star Weekend information convention, Silver stated the NBA’s conventional mannequin — the place the worst-performing groups obtain the very best draft odds — could also be basically misaligned with aggressive integrity.
“When any economist comes and appears at our system, they all the time level out you could have the incentives backwards there,” Silver stated. “That doesn’t essentially make sense.”
The league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 this week for failing to make use of accessible star gamers in aggressive video games. Silver stated the fines weren’t remoted self-discipline however a part of a broader sign to groups.
“Are we seeing conduct that’s worse this 12 months than we’ve seen in latest reminiscence? Sure, is my view,” Silver stated. “Which was what led to these fines … and really deliberately needed groups to be on discover.”
Lottery Underneath “Recent Look” as Parity Debate Intensifies
Silver traced the difficulty traditionally, noting that the league as soon as used a coin flip within the Sixties earlier than adopting a lottery system within the Nineteen Eighties. He stated the lottery has been modified roughly 5 instances in makes an attempt to remain forward of staff conduct.
However analytics, he stated, have sharpened front-office calculations.
“I feel what we’re seeing is trendy analytics the place it’s so clear that the incentives are misaligned,” Silver stated.
Adam Silver’s full response to tanking: pic.twitter.com/zxw6aET8vK
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 14, 2026
The commissioner stated the NBA’s Competitors Committee — which incorporates homeowners, common managers, gamers and representatives of the Gamers Affiliation — started reexamining your complete draft-lottery construction earlier this season.
“It’s time to take a contemporary have a look at this to see as to if that’s an antiquated manner of going about doing it,” Silver stated.
Silver framed the difficulty as extra nuanced than standings counsel. He stated conversations with common managers and coaches point out that aggressive gaps could also be smaller than data indicate.
“It’s not clear to me, for instance, that the thirtieth performing staff is that a lot measurably worse than the twenty second performing staff, notably when you have incentive to carry out poorly to get a greater draft decide,” Silver stated. “It’s a little bit of a conundrum.”
The commissioner emphasised that the league seeks “parity of alternative,” not an identical outcomes. But when groups manipulate efficiency to enhance draft place — even inside a lottery construction — it undermines the premise that the worst groups are being helped.
“If groups are manipulating their efficiency with the intention to get greater draft picks even in a lottery, then the query turns into … are they actually the worst-performing groups?” Silver stated.
Whereas the league has elevated scrutiny of harm stories and lineup choices, Silver acknowledged that heavy-handed enforcement will not be a viable long-term technique.
“I don’t suppose that’s the best way to handle this method long-term of, I do know it once I see it,” he stated. “It’s going to result in very unhealthy relationships between us and our groups.”
Requested whether or not the NBA may escalate penalties past fines — together with stripping draft picks — Silver didn’t rule it out.
“There’s speak about each attainable treatment now to cease this conduct,” he stated.
Silver additionally acknowledged the difficult fan dynamic, noting that some fan bases paradoxically root for short-term shedding if it will increase draft odds.
“It’s not what they need to pay for to see poor efficiency on the ground,” Silver stated. “However they’re truly rooting for his or her groups in some instances to be unhealthy to enhance their draft probabilities.”
In the end, he stated, the league should defend aggressive integrity and fan belief.
“We need to have truthful competitors, we need to have truthful methods and to control the followers, most significantly, and their expectation that we’re going to be placing the very best product ahead,” Silver stated.
Enlargement: 2026 Choice, No Relocation
Silver confirmed enlargement discussions will proceed on the March Board of Governors assembly, although no vote is predicted then. He reiterated that formal choices are focused for 2026.
“I’ve been very clear I don’t need to tease groups, I don’t need to tease cities or mislead anybody,” Silver stated.
Seattle and Las Vegas stay focal markets, however Silver emphasised that enlargement will not be mechanically a two-team course of.
“No, it doesn’t need to be a two-team enlargement,” he stated. “Frankly, it doesn’t need to be any variety of groups.”
The subsequent section, he stated, entails exploring possession curiosity and franchise valuation in focused cities, together with inspecting convention alignment.
When requested about relocation, Silver was definitive.
“Relocation will not be on the desk proper now,” he stated.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver on WNBA CBA negotiations: “We’re getting awfully near the eleventh Hour now. In the case of bargaining, I am inspired. There was extra forwards and backwards over the previous few weeks.”
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) February 14, 2026
Ladies’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation CBA Talks Enter “eleventh Hour“
Silver additionally addressed the WNBA’s collective bargaining negotiations, warning that the calendar is changing into a important issue because the league approaches its Might 8 season opener.
“Let me start by saying I feel it’s unlucky the place we discover ourselves proper now,” Silver stated. “We’re coming off great momentum within the WNBA. It’s not misplaced on anybody.”
Silver pointed to the league’s thirtieth season and up to date surge in recognition, saying “all arrows are pointing up.”
However he harassed the logistical hurdles forward: an enlargement draft, a collegiate draft, free company and coaching camps scheduled to open in roughly two months.
“We now have to get not one, however two drafts executed,” Silver stated. “Plus at any time when we shake palms on a collective bargaining settlement, the legal professionals need to go to work and memorialize it.”
He declined to set a proper drop-dead date, however made clear urgency is required.
“We’re awfully near the eleventh now relating to bargaining,” Silver stated.
Silver stated he’s inspired by elevated engagement between gamers and homeowners and is concerned behind the scenes, although indirectly on the desk.
“We have to now transfer towards the subsequent stage sense of urgency and never lose momentum when it comes to the wonderful quantity of progress we’ve seen in ladies’s basketball,” he stated.
Europe: Concentrating on 2027–28 Launch
Silver supplied certainly one of his most detailed updates but on the NBA’s deliberate European league, saying a 2027–28 launch is reasonable, although the construction could evolve over time.
“We’ve moved into a brand new section now working with our two bankers, JP Morgan and Raine,” Silver stated.
Dozens of potential possession teams have signed non-disclosure agreements and reviewed projections. Silver stated the league can be engaged in constructive discussions with the EuroLeague and its new CEO, Chus Bueno.
Silver acknowledged Europe’s established basketball ecosystem and harassed that the NBA intends to maneuver rapidly, however respectfully.
“We all know it’s not reasonable to ask individuals simply to freeze the competitors and await us to come back,” he stated.
He additionally highlighted the NBA’s world attain — roughly two billion social media followers — and stated the European league is envisioned as each regionally rooted and globally adopted.
“Should you’re searching for a brief return, it’s best to in all probability look elsewhere,” Silver stated. “That is one thing that we plan to construct over many years.”
When requested whether or not NBA gamers may put money into European groups, Silver stated discussions are ongoing with the Gamers Affiliation.
Clippers Investigation and Betting Oversight
Silver stated no choice has been made within the Aspiration case involving the Los Angeles Clippers. The investigation is being carried out by Wachtell, a New York-based legislation agency.
“From every thing I’ve been advised, the Clippers have been absolutely cooperative,” Silver stated, including that All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles has not affected the timeline.
Silver additionally addressed the increasing betting panorama after being requested about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s endorsement cope with a prediction market.
“We at present are taking a look at prediction markets basically in the identical manner that we’re taking a look at sports activities betting firms,” Silver stated.
Adam Silver, on the Clippers’ Aspiration investigation: “I haven’t come to any choices by any means but on the Clippers matter. The league workplace will not be straight operating the investigation. … From every thing I’ve been advised, the Clippers have been absolutely cooperative.”
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) February 14, 2026
He famous gamers are permitted to make de minimis investments — capped at 1 % — underneath collectively bargained guidelines, and stated Antetokounmpo’s stake is nicely under that threshold.
Silver stated prediction markets are quickly evolving and will face scrutiny from courts or Congress. He added that the NBA should monitor betting throughout roughly 40 U.S. jurisdictions, an expansive unlawful market and roughly 80 international locations globally the place NBA wagering is authorized.
“It considerations me within the totality of all this betting that we want a greater deal with … on all of the completely different exercise that’s taking place on the market,” Silver stated.
Governance and “Rule of Legislation”
Pressed about punishment thresholds, together with salary-cap circumvention, Silver stated he’s “fully beholden to the structure and the CBA.”
“I imagine within the rule of legislation,” he stated.
Silver stated his authority derives straight from these governing paperwork and from the homeowners who empowered him to implement them. He emphasised that rule modifications should transfer via committee processes that embody homeowners, executives and gamers.
“We’d higher not lose sight of our followers right here,” Silver stated. “We’d higher not lose sight of the individuals who assist this league day in and time out.”
In discussing tanking, enlargement, world development and betting oversight, Silver repeatedly returned to the identical theme: the NBA’s long-term credibility is dependent upon aligning incentives with competitors.
“What we’re doing, what we’re seeing proper now will not be working; there’s no query about it,” Silver stated.
