The NBA finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. With the latest gambling scandal involving Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones, the league can no longer afford to look the other way. We have to consider that teams that load manage or “strategic tank” might actually be part of something much darker.
A Moment to Clean House
The accusations against Terry Rozier for allegedly fixing games should be a wake-up call to the entire league. If one player or coach can influence outcomes for gambling purposes, who’s to say others haven’t done the same?
The NBA needs to launch a full-scale investigation into every team suspected of tanking or manipulating results. This isn’t just about losing games — it’s about the credibility of professional basketball.
Let’s rewind to when Gregg Popovich famously rested Tim Duncan and other Spurs stars on nationally televised games. Back then, it was brushed off as “load management.” But in hindsight, was it really rest — or could there have been another motive?
Brooklyn Nets: The Poster Child for Tanking Culture
Take the Brooklyn Nets, for example. This franchise has never drafted a generational superstar since joining the NBA in 1976–77. Nearly five decades later, they’re still recycling rebuilds and “youth movements” that rarely go anywhere.
Now they’re losing games and calling it “player development” or “draft positioning.” But let’s be real — if 50 years of lottery picks haven’t produced a homegrown star, why should fans believe tanking will suddenly work now?
Meanwhile, oddsmakers and betting sites profit from every “strategic loss,” and loyal fans are left holding the bill.
The Billionaire Paradox
NBA owners are billionaires — and billionaires don’t like to lose. Their entire legacy is built on winning, competition, and control. So when teams seem to lose on purpose, it’s fair to ask: what’s the real motive?
Throwing games and manipulating point spreads can be far more profitable than chasing wins, especially in a league now tied directly to sportsbook sponsors. What used to be “off nights” can now mean massive betting swings — and someone, somewhere, is cashing in.
The sad truth? Many fans are still fooled into thinking tanking is a long-term strategy. It’s not. It’s a short-term payout disguised as patience.
Time for Accountability
This moment is bigger than one player or one scandal. The NBA must use this opportunity to clean house — completely. Investigate tanking—audit betting activity. Hold coaches, executives, and players accountable.
Because if the league doesn’t act now, it risks losing the one thing that makes sports sacred: trust.
In today’s NBA, the biggest threat isn’t just losing — it’s pretending that losing on purpose is acceptable.