Tanking has become a huge problem in the NBA over the last few seasons. Franchises want every edge they can get to land the No. 1 pick in the loaded 2026 draft. The bottom 10 teams this season just set a shocking statistic that further strengthens the tanking issue.
NBA World Reacts to Insane 10-Team 40-Game Losing Streak
Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh revealed a “crazy tanking stat” on March 4. The bottom 10 franchises combined for a 40-game losing streak.
Crazy tanking stat: the bottom 10 teams in the NBA are on a collective 40-game losing streak. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hnV9WC1Za2
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) March 4, 2026
Four of the 10 squads, the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz, have lost at least six consecutive games. The Chicago Bulls just ended an 11-game losing streak on March 1 with a win over the Bucks. The Nets have not won a game since Feb. 9. Most teams would be disgusted by these numbers, but these squads are fighting for the best lottery odds this summer.
The NBA fined the Jazz and Pacers in February for violating the league’s player participation policy. Utah benched key starters like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen against the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. Indiana did not play Pascal Siakam and other healthy players against the Jazz. However, this did not deter other teams from tanking, leading to an “unhealthy” trend, as noted by the Five Reasons Sports handle.
Andrew Brandt, the executive director of sports law at Villanova University, said, “[These teams] are acing the assignment!” This suggests the incentive behind tanking remains too high. CEO of the Bleav sports podcast network, Bron Heussenstamm, suggested three ways to fix this.
“Flatten the lottery … If you pick top 5, you are bottom 5 in the lottery the following year … reduce the amount of teams that make the playoffs – revenue made up for in regular season excitement,” suggested Heussenstamm.
1. Flatten the lottery,
2. If you pick top 5 you are bottom 5 in lottery the following year.
3. reduce the amount of teams that make the playoffs – revenue made up for in regular season excitement— Bron Heussenstamm (@BronHe) March 4, 2026
NBA podcast host Travonne Edwards posted a one-word, strong response to Haberstroh’s Tweet- “Nasty.”
nasty https://t.co/4LkC0D6RY6
— Travonne Edwards (@Travonne) March 4, 2026
PrizePicks’ Twitter/X account even got in on the action. The account posted a picture of former NBA analyst and 17-year veteran Mark Jackson with the caption, “What happened to the game I love?”
https://t.co/LtJUtiYIzP pic.twitter.com/5XCZzL31Ts
— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) March 4, 2026
Interestingly, two matchups on March 5 will end the 40-game losing streak. The Wizards host the Jazz at 7 p.m. ET, and the New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings at 10 p.m. ET.
That ends tomorrow 😈🔥🤣 pic.twitter.com/9iS9TVcQJk
— NBAWatchability (@NBAWhatToWatch) March 4, 2026
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wizards star Trae Young is expected to make his team debut against Utah, but he will be on a strict minutes restriction. The Jazz could rest Keyonte George on the second night of a back-to-back after he just returned from an ankle injury.
New Orleans does not actually have an incentive to lose. It traded its 2026 first-round pick unprotected to the Atlanta Hawks last summer in the Derik Queen trade. The Pelicans have not prioritized their young players, benching Jeremiah Fears and Queen. In contrast, Sacramento starts rookies Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford. They have their first-round pick this summer.
