The NBA has a gambling problem, but the NBA has also consistently over the years changed the parameters concerning how they establish the order of the draft in attempts to try and quell tanking. They’ve been concerned about and trying to address tanking since at least the early 80s. It’s not just now starting because gambling companies are complaining.

No, that’s complete nonsense and total speculation by that guy.

In every gambling sport you have to deal with a player/team/horse not performing to the best they can on purpose.

This doesn’t affect gambling companies at all; why would it. Complaints by customers lmao?? Horse racing has been a betting sport for nearly 140 years and is rife with non triers.

The only reason it got the front page is because of reddits vicious hate towards sports gambling and terrible understanding of it.

That makes absolutely no sense. Why would they complain when people are still betting on games where tanking occurs? If anyone would have inside knowledge about the tanking it would be the gambling companies not the average Joe anyway. They’re concerned because people aren’t actively watching the games with tanking teams besides, ironically enough, the gamblers that bet on them

the “fact of the matter” is what one guy just wrote this morning?

Ehhh it’s always been an issue even before gambling was introduced though.

Why would gambling companies care? It’s all part of the odds isn’t it? The house will never lose

This is the dumbest comment I’ve ever read

It’s because gambling company’s are starting to complain.

Gambling has been legal in many european countries and sports teams regularly rest players, no matter if Football, Basketball or whatever never heard betting companies making any fuss about it…

Don’t get me wrong, I despise the influence betting has on sports, but we so far have only a single report with not much substance about it.

Companies

He admitted we tanked the last two games in the Wemby draft to keep our top 10 protected pick and got a massive fine for it.

I mean he openly said it in 2023 when we tanked to prevent the Knicks from taking our pick and they fined him 750k lol.

He’s trying to buy the Mavs cheaper haha

He got fined for it before for openly saying it was better if they lose. Not an owner but Schlenk admitted they tanked for Barnes when he was with the Warriors.

Usually they dance around it by saying they are focusing on youth and other bullshit like Presti did when he defended his tanking a few years ago. Kinda refreshing when they just come out with it.

So increase the fines for sitting players or find some other way to address that specific issue.

Tanking and throwing games used to be considered different things even if they were somewhat related.

The Process 76ers really weren’t throwing games like the Jazz are now.

What’s the biggest reason that the Cavs even won a championship and made multiple finals again aside from Lebron of course? Oh yes, it was winning all those lotteries and building a really nice team. And maybe they should have sat Lebron for Chris Paul, maybe they would have won multiple before Lebron left or prevented him leaving altogether.

I know it sucks to see stars sit (which isn’t the issue here, its tanking teams sitting guys like Lauri a little more than usual not Bron), but this is the winning formula.

Same I still remember going to the Lakers Magic game before that terrible crash

I still remember seeing Clippers Celtics

Tanking isn’t the issue 

That’s absolutely a lie lmao. Tanking is an extreme issue. Saying another problem exist doesn’t delete the tanking issue from existence 

This sub tells me as a jazz fan, that i should be happy fighting for the tenth seed rather than my team trying to get a star to contend with.

The issue with the NBA is how the draft lottery is set up. It encourages even semi bad teams to roll the dice. If I can’t compete to make the playoffs then I might as well compete better my odds of a better pick. It’s an entirely rational decision.

No lies spoken

Lies definitely spoken. Tanking affects quality of game presentation. For both teams. Even if you buy that hope is worth all the downsides of tanking, it still creates a shitty product for the other team as well. So it’s obviously ridiculous to say it’s not an issue, but then say the quality of the product is an issue. 

That’s not even getting into the fact that a system where you’re angry when your team wins also obviously impacts the quality of game presentation. 

‘Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fans that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring.

“The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3 , when you tank.“Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are.’

Man there’s like one country on earth where that could be said about a sport league and the fans wouldn’t rip you to pieces. Pretty much the thought anywhere of going into a sporting contest with the goal to lose is crazy. Shit gets you banned at the Olympics and the vast majority of sports/sports leagues.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Cool. You can watch your favorite team stay as a middling first round exit for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile Spurs fans who actively rooted for their team to lose games now get to watch their team contend for the next 15 years

lmao i remember r/torontoraptors tankers were raging in previous seasons when they won a game

I genuinely think it’s really sad. My team has been awful at times but I never rooted for them to lose. In those seasons I might’ve coped after a loss that “at least our draft position is better,” but that was because I didn’t get a win. Actually hoping your team loses every game is legit a bit pathetic

As a kid, the mavericks were the worst team in the NBA for a decade. Getting tickets was easy, and really only sold out or got even remotely full for the spurs or the lakers or if another major team was in town. The team didn’t really have any fans anymore (made even more difficult by the 90s Cowboys), and most of the fans enjoyed watching the team get dog walked by David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Cuban’s point is that NBA fandom waxes and wanes with the quality of the team. Sure you want your team to win, but you also want them to get into a winning window. It’s why everyone watches the draft now.

Yeah, hard disagree with Cuban on that, he’s talking about a mythical fan. Some fans understand that tanking is necessary, and that whole family thing is cool and all, but for the people actually going to the game they want to see actual competition to win a game, not an exhibition match. And those three kids at the game? Are families expected to explain to them that the team isn’t trying to win that game?

For example, if it’s just about the experience, why wouldn’t pre-season games be just as important as regular season games to fan? It’s not.

Edit: and whose jersey are they going to buy for those three kids when the team isn’t trying?

And don’t use the veterans in your marketing and season ticket pitches.

Honestly if he was allowed to be open about it & not get fined he might. This is the same guy that would buy up any empty seats & give tickets away to local schools to maintain our “sold out home game” record. He would find a way to market it. 

Exactly, if I’m paying $300+ for a ticket, I definitely want to see the star players on the court. If not, the ticket prices should be adjusted via a credit back to the ticket holders.

Except you’re only going to be actually competitive if you have a team that can compete

Before the lottery system existed, the two worst teams in the league simply flipped a coin for the #1 pick.

The 1983–84 Houston Rockets: After a decent start, the Rockets allegedly began losing on purpose to secure a coin flip for the top pick. It worked and they landed Hakeem Olajuwon.

The 1981–82 Clippers: Under owner Donald Sterling, the team was accused of intentionally losing to gain a higher pick, which led to a 19-game losing streak toward the end of the season.

Lol hearing this from a team that lucked into a #1 pick with slim odds is rich.

“Just play hard guys, you’ll get your draft pick regardless!” Kind of energy.

Risacher straight up for Cody Williams, same draft. How different would that make your team?

There is some disconnect between fans on this - everyone clowns the Bulls for being mid for years, but based on the tanking conversation this past week they might actually be the most ethical franchise in the league.

He already ate a $600K for admitting to tanking those 2 games. Also happened when he said “I think it’s for the best to lose games for our draft pick” back in 2019 when the Mavs weren’t winning much with a Rookie Luka

Oh, no, a total of… ¹⁄₁₂,000 of his worth.

I mean he explicitly said that affordability is the bigger issue, which I wouldn’t h to ink is that controversial

In what world are the Jazz selling 1500 dollar tickets

You can buy 4 for 50 bucks to their upcoming game right now, what the fuck are you talking about

The nba should worry more about fan experience than tanking. It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.

You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player

Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are

Sounds like you agree with Cuban

To be clear, people were bitching when the Jazz were playing their stars 25+ minutes a game. Sure, it sucks when the Wizards shut Trae and AD down for the season in January, but the Jazz have created a way better fan experience

Are we talking about the Jazz and Pacers, or are we talking about stuff like the Warriors sitting Steph on back to backs sometimes? Because the Jazz are still playing their stars, just sitting them in the fourth, and Siakam still seems to be playing most games. Meanwhile, the Warriors aren’t sitting Steph to tank, they’re sitting him because he’s 37 and still carrying this team.

Or just go to an NFL system where it’s done directly by ranking and suffer 4-6 teams tanking and everyone else more motivated by actually making the playoffs etc.

Short term pain to secure the long term future of the team. Gaining a franchise player literally changes your club over night. 

It’s the only way for small market teams to effectively and efficiently acquire high level talent. No star is signing with the Jazz.

Even if they tried their absolute hardest to win every game with the roster they have, you’d still clown on them for winning 37-45 games and losing in the play-in or being cannon fodder for the #1 or #2 seed, like the Hawks or Bulls of recent years.

As a Pacers fan this year, I’ve had some moments of “I hope we lose tonight!” while seeing the team develop. With how Cuban phrased it, I am more excited about the team when I have hope that it can turn into something better than expectations of staying in the middle.

If you think arenas are empty because of tanking, just wait until you see them when all the legitimately bad team has no viable path out of the hell they’re in for 5-10 years hoping for some mid round miracle pick 

Teams blatantly don’t try in baseball every single year, not even for 2-3 years every single year for decades. This is soooo much better than that.

watching a lot of nets, jazz, and kings huh? there’s a reason these teams aren’t nationally televised. i seriously doubt anyone is watching these teams that aren’t hardcore fans of them.

So you prefer a team stay mediocre forever with no great players, no high picks? You would love the Chicago Bulls

I would bet the majority of fans in any arena aren’t subscribed to r/nba

I’m a Pacers fan, and I am absolutely happy when we lose. I cheer to win, but happy when we lose. I don’t think there is anything that laughable about it. A high draft pick with our returning squad could really help our future.

I did every single time they lost last year and this year.