Warriors Draymond Green On How To Fix Tanking In The NBA: ‘Keep Fining Teams’
The NBA has wrestled with the issue of late-season tanking for years. Franchise front offices frequently prioritize draft positioning over winning games as the regular season concludes. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green recently voiced his deep frustration with this practice. He offered a very straightforward solution: fine organizations aggressively.
Draymond Green On How To Fix Tanking in the NBA
Following a narrow victory over the Sacramento Kings, Green openly criticized the opposition’s late-game tactics. He pointed to an intentional foul on Seth Curry, an elite free-throw shooter. as clear evidence of a team actively trying to lose. To combat this systemic issue, Green believes the NBA must target team bank accounts.
“I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in a game for no reason. In the penalty. [The play-in] ain’t working. But we’re gonna make the [postseason], so it works, I guess. I think I get fined when I do wrong. Just fine the hell out of people. We love taking money from players, keep fining the teams. I’ve seen two fines. And we all know everybody tanking. But you’ve seen two fines.”
He highlighted a frustrating double standard regarding league discipline. While the NBA quickly fines players for minor infractions, organizations deliberately losing games rarely face financial consequences. Green noted that despite a large portion of the league actively tanking down the stretch, the league has only penalized a couple of teams. He argued that levying massive, consistent fines against ownership groups would quickly curb the practice.
The Fading Impact of the Play-In
The league originally introduced the play-in tournament to discourage late-season tanking. By giving the ninth and tenth seeds a chance at the postseason, executives hoped to keep more teams competitive through April. However, Green argues this format has lost its initial effectiveness.
“I think the play-in was made for teams to not tank. I think that’s the part that everyone forgets. The play-in came about to make teams like maybe through 12 or 13th keep going. They ain’t keep going. They kinda slowed down, and then they hit the brakes.”
Teams on the edge of the play-in picture often realize they cannot realistically compete for a championship. Instead of fighting for a low seed, they simply hit the brakes. The massive incentive to secure a top lottery pick heavily outweighs the desire to participate in a single elimination game.
Broader Implications and Next Steps
The NBA recognizes this growing problem and is actively exploring new solutions. Recent reports indicate the league’s board of governors reviewed several comprehensive anti-tanking proposals. These ideas include adjusting draft lottery odds, factoring in multiple seasons of team records, and establishing minimum win totals.
Draymond Green’s comments highlight a significant disconnect between competitive players and strategic front offices. While heavy fines could serve as an immediate deterrent, the league must find a structural balance that truly rewards winning at every level. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see which specific anti-tanking measures the NBA decides to implement before next season.
