The NBA’s tanking debate just got a lot louder. In the wake of recent fines and mounting scrutiny from Commissioner Adam Silver, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia now delivers a scorching, no-holds-barred response to teams he believes are intentionally losing games. And he didn’t mince words.
Mat Ishbia Unleashes on Teams That Intentionally Lose
Mat Ishbia responded after Silver publicly acknowledged that tanking appears worse this season than in recent memory. He didn’t tiptoe around the issue. He attacked the concept at its very core, not as a strategy but as culture.
“This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers. Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations. And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous.”
Ishbia didn’t just criticize; he brought morality into the open. All he wants is for teams to rebuilt naturally, without manipulating outcomes.
“If you are a bad team, you get a good pick. That makes sense. But purposely shutting down players and purposely losing games is a disgrace and impacts the integrity of whole league. This is much worse than any prop bet scandal. This is throwing games strategically.”
Ishbia finally zeroes in on who pays the price, talking more as an advocate for the people rather than a franchise owner.
“Horrible for fans that pay to watch and cheer on their team. And horrible for all the real teams that are competing for playoff spots.”
He doesn’t hesitate to publicly back NBA commissioner Adam Silver while simultaneously pressuring the league office to act.
This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers. Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations. And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous.
If you are a bad team, you get a… https://t.co/VoUx3YEdB5
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) February 19, 2026
“Awful behavior that Adam Silver and the NBA will need to stop with massive changes, and I have complete confidence that with his leadership, he will fix it. Those of us in a position of influence need to speak out… the only “strategy” is doing right by fans, players, and the NBA community.”
Ishbia’s words are powerful instead of being a simple rant. He tries to call for structural reform in his own way.
The League Is Already Cracking Down
During the All-Star Weekend, Adam Silver cleared the air that the NBA is “on notice”. He acknowledged that the behavior this season appears worse than in recent years, suggesting further penalties, potentially even forfeiture of draft picks, could be on the table.
For him, the integrity of the game is the primary concern.
The draft lottery system, designed to discourage tanking by flattening odds among the worst teams, hasn’t eliminated incentives to lose. Teams with the three worst records still hold the best chance (14%) at the No. 1 pick. For struggling franchises, that carrot remains powerful.
Ishbia raises a very simple point. There’s a difference between being bad and trying to be bad.
A Playoff Team Taking the High Road
The Suns aren’t in tank mode. They currently sit at 32-23, seventh in the Western Conference, battling for playoff positioning. They trail the Minnesota Timberwolves by 1.5 games for a guaranteed postseason berth and return from the All-Star break against the San Antonio Spurs.
Ishbia, who purchased the franchise in 2023, has aggressively invested in winning. He’s heavily invested himself in everything — from payroll spending to front-office moves. Of course, his public stance aligns with his philosophy.
The conversation around tanking has also intersected with concerns about gambling partnerships and league optics. With sports books deeply embedded in the NBA ecosystem, transparency around player availability has become more scrutinized than ever. This adds yet another layer to the maze that is Silver’s crackdown.
It does raise questions about whether the league is responding to competitive integrity concerns, betting pressures, or both.
Ishbia’s message might be angry, but it called for principles, daring the league to pick a side.
