Teams intentionally losing games to improve their chances of getting a better pick is a legitimate tactic some teams are using. However, many also view it as anti-competitive, and its prominence is being considered a major crisis. Ways to curb tanking are already being discussed internally within the league. For Phoenix Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia, though, those changes can’t come fast enough; he wants them now.
Mat Ishbia Says Tanking Is for Losers
Among the executives and front-office members opposed to tanking is Ishbia, who became the franchise’s majority owner in 2023. Ishbia was asked to share his insights on teams intentionally losing during an episode of Pat McAfee’s ESPN talk show.
“It’s an embarrasment, it’s horrible,” Ishbia said. “My perspective is tanking is loser mentality. You show me someone that wants to lose or thinks about losing, I’ll show you a loser.”
He said that this was not his style and that he hates losing. He also said that the draft works if teams don’t win and they are compensated with good picks. However, it’s a problem when teams intentionally lose to put themselves in that position.
“If you purposely trade for players and then don’t play them trying to lose games,” he added. “I think it’s bad for the NBA. I think Adam Silver knows it, organizations know it, it’s gotta change. It will change.”
“Tanking is a loser mentality..
I don’t like losing and I don’t ever wanna talk about losing..
We try to win and tanking is bad for the NBA..
It’s gotta change and it will change” ~ @Mishbia15 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/IPm59cIWCZ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 25, 2026
Ishbia was already quite vocal about tanking before sharing his thoughts with McAfee. Several days ago, he posted on X saying that intentionally losing is a disgrace to the league and worse than any prop bet scandal. He also encouraged the league’s leadership to change it, saying that he has full confidence in them to do so.
The issue of tanking has persisted for quite some time, and proposals to address it have been floated in recent seasons. An idea that’s been shared is relegating the bottom teams to the G League, but it hasn’t gained any real traction.
This season, serious proposals have been shared after an internal discussion by Silver and the NBA’s competition committee. The suggested changes include banning consecutive top-four picks, freezing lottery odds earlier, and flattening odds leaguewide.
These changes will reportedly take effect next season, but the actual changes being enforced have yet to be announced. Ishbia’s squad — the Suns — are seventh in the Western Conference with a 33-26 record, fighting for a direct playoff spot. They are sitting two games behind the sixth-seeded Lakers and 2.5 games ahead of the Warriors.
