NBA's New Anti-Tanking Rules Are Drawing Strong Reactions From Fans
The Play-In Tournament felt like a big deal when the NBA first rolled it out. What the league just did makes that look like a minor adjustment. The NBA's Board of Governors officially passed a sweeping set of anti-tanking rules this week, and the ripple effects are already being felt across the league.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the changes, which include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, flattened odds across the board and a new relegation zone that penalizes the three worst teams in the league with reduced chances at the No. 1 pick.
It's an unprecedented move in American professional sports, one that came after months of discussions between the league, ownership groups and team stakeholders. With somewhere between eight and ten teams jockeying for lottery positioning down the stretch this season, the NBA decided it had seen enough.
The new system is called the "3-2-1 lottery" and it launches at the next Draft, running through at least 2029.
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has passed new anti-tanking rules that include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, a relegation zone where the bottom 3 teams get penalized with lessened chances for the No. 1 pick, and flattened odds, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/e1oq10p2yV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026
NBA Fans React to the Anti-Tanking Rules
Fan reaction came in fast and it went in every direction. Some saw it as the league finally cracking down on a problem that had gotten out of hand.
"16 teams makes a lot of sense. The tanking last year was pretty blatant and embarrassing," one fan wrote.
"NBA really told teams 'go win some games,' tanking era got dudes sweating now," another put it more bluntly.
Others pointed out the obvious loophole.
"Teams are about to be scratching and clawing to be the 4th worst team in the league," one fan wrote.
"Expanding to 16 teams and punishing the bottom 3 means teams will just tank for 4th-worst instead. Classic NBA, always one step behind the tankers," another added.
"So now the worst teams get punished, mid teams get rewarded and fans are supposed to celebrate fighting for the 13th seed. The NBA just invented competitive mediocrity," one person, who wasn't buying the whole concept, shared.
One fan went further, suggesting the league scrap the lottery entirely and send the bottom four teams to the G League while promoting the top four up.
How the New NBA Draft Lottery System Works
The name reflects how lottery balls are distributed. Teams finishing with a bottom-three record land in the relegation zone and receive just two lottery balls. Teams that miss the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, spots four through ten, get three balls each.
The Nos. 9 and 10 Play-In seeds in each conference receive two balls and the losers of the 7-8 Play-In games get one ball each. All 16 teams will be in the drawing. No team can win the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years or land three consecutive top-five picks.
The vote passed 29-1. The Memphis Grizzlies were the only franchise to vote against the new reform.
Related: Underdog Sports Unfazed Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Cease and Desist Warning
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 12:44 PM.