Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

There's An NBA Tanking Epidemic! Says Draymond Green

12 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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1:20

In a candid YouTube monologue, Draymond Green argues that a third of the NBA is actively tanking before the All-Star break, describing the phenomenon as a "copycat league" that harms the product. He cites Memphis, which traded key players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jae'Sean Tate (referred to as "Bane") and limited Ty Jerome’s minutes, as a clear example. He also points to Utah, which has consistently sat Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Youssif Nurkic during the fourth quarter to manipulate draft lottery odds, noting that Sam Presti is upset because Utah’s strategy could affect his own team's (Oklahoma City) pick. Green criticizes the trend of small‑market teams emulating this approach, referencing past champions like the Spurs and Thunder, and urges the league to stop rewarding tanking, warning that it is “killing the product.”

Chapters

You're talking a third of the league is tanking right now. It's not even All-Star break yet. And the full-out tank jobs are on. Memphis, it's obvious they're tanking, right? You trade Bane, you trade Jaren. Ty Jerome was playing great and you sit him the last 7, 8 minutes of the game. Comeback start happening, you're like, "Man, they're gonna bring Ty back." Don't bring Ty Jerome back. But they're not the only team tanking. Utah has not played Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Youssef Nurkic. In the fourth quarter. Some of these games, Jaren got 26 going into the fourth, Lori got 25 going into the fourth. And then these guys don't play the fourth quarter. Utah has to stay within the top 8 or their pick goes to Oklahoma City. So Sam Presti's livid at what Utah's doing. Only problem with that is Sam Presti just won a championship last year doing what Utah's doing. But it ain't so fun when the rabbit got the gun. Say it again. It's a copycat league. So now everybody's like, "Oh, I gotta tank 'cause I'm gonna get the next championship in the small market." No, you not. Small market teams that'll be getting championships, San Antonio Spurs. They've been champions. Oklahoma City, they're champions now. But you're just not about to be, "Oh, we all gonna tank and we gonna—" Like, that's not how this works. Stop rewarding tanking. It's more blatant than it's ever been. It's ridiculous. And it's killing the product. Woo!