NBA Tanking Fines: Sports Betting Pressure on Adam Silver

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-17

So here's a situation that's got everyone talking. The NBA has a tanking problem, and it turns out the league's new best friends—sports betting companies—might be the ones pushing for a solution. It's a fascinating twist in the modern sports landscape. Sports journalist Ben Golliver recently dropped this bombshell on the Jim Rome Show. He suggested Commissioner Adam Silver's recent crackdown, including some hefty fines for teams, isn't just about competitive integrity. It's about keeping the gambling partners happy. Think about it. The NBA has embraced sports betting in a huge way. It's woven into the fabric of the broadcast and the fan experience. But tanking, where teams intentionally lose games to get a better draft pick, throws a wrench into that machine. ### The Direct Impact on Betting Markets Golliver put it bluntly. "If you're not playing guys in the fourth quarter, how many bets is that impacting, right?" He's talking about over-unders, player props—all the intricate bets that fans are placing every night. When a coach decides to sit a star player without warning, it doesn't just affect the game. It affects millions of dollars in wagers. You're going to have a lot of angry gamblers and a lot of angry gambling companies, as well. That's the pressure point. The league's financial partners now have a direct stake in how the game is played, or in this case, not played. ### Recent Fines Show the Stakes The theory was put to the test recently. The Utah Jazz, sitting with a 18-38 record, got hit with a massive $500,000 fine. Why? For sitting healthy All-Stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for entire fourth quarters in close games. The team claimed medical reasons, but the timing raised eyebrows. Not long after, the Indiana Pacers (15-40) were fined $100,000 for a similar move, sitting Pascal Siakam. The message from the league office is clear: this behavior won't be tolerated. But is the message for the fans, or for the betting operators? - **Financial Penalties:** Fines are now in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, a significant deterrent. - **Public Scrutiny:** Teams are being called out by name, damaging their reputation with fans. - **Future Threats:** Golliver expects more punishments, signaling this is an ongoing priority for the league. ### Why Tanking Happens: The Draft Lottery Explained To understand the temptation, you have to look at the NBA draft. Unlike other leagues, it uses a lottery system to discourage outright losing. But the incentive is still there. Here's how it works today: The three worst teams each have a 14% chance at the number one pick. Only the top four picks are decided by the ping-pong balls. After that, it's straight reverse order of record. So the absolute worst team can't pick lower than fifth. With a draft class hyped as one of the best in years, losing a few extra games can feel like a smart long-term strategy. But that strategy now collides with a multibillion-dollar sports betting industry. When the Dallas Mavericks can win the lottery with just a 1.8% chance, as they did last year for Cooper Flagg, it shows the system has flaws. It also shows why teams keep trying to game it. The whole dynamic creates a tricky balance for Adam Silver. He has to preserve the integrity of the game for traditional fans while also protecting the new, lucrative betting ecosystem the league has built. It's no longer just about basketball. It's about the business of basketball, and that business now includes keeping the books balanced for the sportsbooks, too. The pressure isn't just coming from the stands anymore; it's coming from the bottom line.