In a league where strategic losing has become an art form, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is drawing a line in the sand. Speaking at the Sloan Conference on Friday, Silver doubled down on his commitment to eradicating tanking, signaling major changes ahead for the 2026-27 season and beyond. For fans of the Chicago Bulls—a franchise that has stubbornly resisted the tanking trend—this could be the vindication they’ve been waiting for.
Silver’s frustration with tanking isn’t new, but his resolve appears stronger than ever. “We are going to make substantial changes for next year,” Silver declared, as reported by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. He acknowledged the temptation for teams to bottom out, especially with a loaded 2026 draft class boasting potential superstars. Yet, he emphasized that the practice is damaging the league’s integrity and fan experience. “On one hand, you can completely divorce the draft from teams’ records… That would be a major shock to the system,” Silver said, hinting at radical ideas like eliminating the lottery system altogether. However, he described himself as an “incrementalist,” suggesting reforms will roll out gradually.
The evidence of tanking’s prevalence is stark. As Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh highlighted, the bottom 10 teams in the standings were mired in a collective 40-game losing streak earlier this week. Each of these squads sits below 30 wins and trails the Play-In Tournament spots by at least 5 games. Silver has already taken action this season, fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 for resting stars like Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in a close game, and penalizing the Indiana Pacers for similar tactics.
While tanking has propelled rebuilds for teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and San Antonio Spurs, the Bulls have charted a different course. Chicago’s front office has long prioritized competitive integrity, refusing to intentionally lose games even as rivals stockpiled high draft picks. This stance has drawn criticism from fans and analysts, especially after a mid-season sell-off at the trade deadline that seemed primed for a tank. Yet, head coach Billy Donovan continues to field veteran lineups, as evidenced by Thursday’s upset win over the Phoenix Suns. “The front office instructed me to put our best foot forward,” Donovan said post-game, echoing the organization’s win-now ethos.
Silver’s comments offer a glimmer of hope for the Bulls. He stressed that legitimate rebuilds—those focused on development and effort rather than deliberate losses—should be rewarded, not punished. “There are teams out there trying hard to win games or prioritizing meaningful developmental minutes,” Silver noted. This philosophy aligns perfectly with Chicago’s approach, potentially positioning them to benefit from any new anti-tanking measures. Ideas floated include adopting WNBA-style rules that base lottery odds on two-year performance samples, or other tweaks to disincentivize short-term tanking without overhauling the system.
Of course, this doesn’t retroactively validate the Bulls’ past decisions. By not “playing the game” that everyone else was, Chicago may have missed out on transformative talent. But as Silver pushes for a more competitive regular season, the Bulls’ moral high ground could translate into tangible advantages. No longer will fans have to root against their own team or celebrate losses. The NBA’s product suffers when a third of the league waves the white flag by mid-season, and Silver’s crackdown aims to restore balance.
For Bulls supporters, this shift couldn’t come at a better time. As the league evolves, Chicago’s commitment to playing meaningful basketball might finally pay dividends. Whether through improved draft positioning for competitive teams or other incentives, the winds of change are blowing in the Windy City’s favor.