In a significant move to protect the integrity of the game, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has begun actively seeking input from team owners and general managers on a series of proposed rule changes designed to combat the practice of 'tanking'. This initiative comes directly in the wake of a major gambling scandal that has rocked the league this season.
League Responds to Scandal with Stricter Oversight
The push for new anti-tanking strategies follows federal indictments in a widespread illegal betting case. Notably, former player Damon Jones, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were implicated. The FBI investigation alleges connections to New York mafia families and involves manipulated betting on NBA player performances.
In response, the NBA announced new regulations last Friday to tackle insider information and performance manipulation. As an immediate step, the league enforced stricter injury reporting rules. Teams complied, filing their injury reports for the following Monday far earlier than usual.
Proposed Draft and Lottery Overhaul
During a recent Board of Governors meeting, the league's top officials submitted several concrete suggestions aimed at restoring competitive balance. The core objective is to discourage non-playoff teams from deliberately losing games late in the season to improve their draft position.
The proposed changes focus on three key areas:
- Draft Pick Protections: Limiting protections to only the top four picks or picks 14 and higher, thereby eliminating problematic mid-lottery protections.
- Consecutive Top Picks: Preventing a team from selecting in the top four of the draft in consecutive years.
- Lottery Seeding Deadline: Sealing the lottery standings after March 1st, giving teams a clear cutoff date.
These measures are designed to motivate teams to remain competitive throughout the entire season, especially in the final stretch, rather than shutting down star players to secure a better draft chance.
Targeting Intentional Roster Manipulation
League sources clarify that the proposed rules are specifically aimed at clubs that intentionally alter their lineups late in the season to fall into a specific draft protection range. The goal is not to penalise teams undergoing a genuine rebuild that deploy their rosters normally.
The timing of these proposals is critical. They emerged just days after Miami Heat's Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with his bail set at $3 million. Meanwhile, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has also pleaded not guilty to charges related to an illegal poker ring connected to organised crime.
The broader criminal case, which involves 34 arrests across two alleged conspiracies, is currently postponed as some defendants negotiate plea deals.
NBA Ramps Up Broader Betting Integrity Measures
Beyond tackling tanking, the league is significantly boosting its oversight of the legal sports betting ecosystem. New regulations for teams are set to take effect, empowering the league to investigate unusual betting patterns involving players, coaches, and team staff.
The strategy is not to outlaw betting but to identify and close dangerous loopholes. The NBA is employing a dual approach: enforcing stricter mandatory injury reports and utilising artificial intelligence to monitor and flag suspicious behaviour that could indicate cheating or game manipulation.
This comprehensive crackdown represents the NBA's most aggressive effort to date to safeguard the sport's credibility in an era of expanded legal sports betting, ensuring fans can trust the competition on the court.
