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Suns Owner Calls Tanking in NBA ‘Losing Behavior Done by Losers’
Mat Ishbia calls tanking a disgrace that harms league integrity and urges NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to impose stronger penalties to protect competitive fairness.
- On Thursday, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia posted on X urging the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver to stop tanking, calling it "much worse than any prop bet scandal" and expressing "complete confidence" Silver will fix it.
- After the league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and Indiana Pacers $100,000, tanking became the dominant topic at All-Star Weekend.
- Ishbia framed tanking as disgraceful conduct that harms paying fans and playoff contenders, calling it a shameful practice that damages league integrity.
- Ishbia noted the Suns have not and will not tank, and cannot gain from it because trades prevent Phoenix from benefiting, contrasting with Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks minority owner, who recently urged embracing tanking.
- Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, said the league will look at all options to address tanking, warning teams and owners they are on notice amid concerns the deep 2026 NBA draft could force rule changes.
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Suns Owner Ishbia Condemns Tanking in NBA
By Andy Romike As the 2026 NBA Draft draws near, many teams at the bottom of the league’s standings have already decided to punt this season and tank games. On Thursday, Suns owner Mat Ishbia condemned that practice. “Tanking is a losing behavior done by losers.” Ishbia posted on his X account. “Purposely losing is something...
Suns owner Mat Ishbia blasts NBA’s tanking teams: ‘Loser behavior’
In a lengthy social media post shared Thursday, Suns owner Mat Ishbia blasted teams that sit healthy players and prioritize draft position over winning, calling the practice “losing behavior” and “embarrassing for the league.”
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 36%
C 46%
R 18%
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