Sports
Why the NBA’s Tanking Problem Isn’t What You Think
Tanking used to be a proper gentleman’s game.
It’s the hot-button topic that swept the NBA during All-Star Weekend, as a third of the league is intentionally losing games to better draft positioning.
And it’s hard to blame teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorite to repeat as NBA Champions. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorite to win the Eastern Conference.
Once upon a time not too long ago, both of these teams were at the bottom of the barrel in the NBA. The Thunder had traded away Paul George and embraced their future as a bad basketball team.
Certainly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s development into an NBA MVP helped things. Similarly, the Cavaliers lost LeBron James and bought out Kevin Love, paving the way for painful years that resulted in top draft selections and a trade for Donovan Mitchell.
After trading away George, the Thunder didn’t even win 50 games in 2019. Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari held court with players like Nerlens Noel, Chris Paul and Terrance Ferguson playing significant minutes. That season, the Cavaliers only won 19 games. They were playing Cedi Osman and Dante Exum for significant minutes.
But the Cavaliers and Thunder rebuilt themselves through the NBA Draft. They didn’t have superstar players to shut down.
Just last week, the rebuilding Utah Jazz shut down Jaren Jackson Jr. for the season. On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks shut down Kyrie Irving.
As a result of the tanking commotion, NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined teams including the Jazz and Indiana Pacers. But he’s also threatening to strip draft picks, or abolishing the NBA Draft altogether, making rookies free agents to sign with any team.
Ironically, abolishing the draft would probably hurt small market teams, including the Thunder and Cavaliers, who would be the betting favorites to play each other in the NBA Finals this season.
So, maybe tanking isn’t the issue? Instead, teams have to be penalized for benching players. Sure, it’s a long season. Too long, in fact. You can’t force guys to play through injuries.
But say you’re a hardworking basketball fan in Utah. You finally get a drop of good news that the team is acquiring a top talent in Jackson, just to see he’s shut down for the season.
Or worse. Say you’re a basketball fan in Billings, Montana. Obviously, you might not have a strong rooting interest in a specific team. But you sit down to watch Cooper Flagg, one of the future faces of the league, suit up for the Mavericks. And he’s on the court by himself because Dallas traded away Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards (who are likely shutting him down for the season) and Irving is out for the year as well.
The NBA is a league that exists because of star players. Just ask Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who revived the league nearly by themselves. Or ask LeBron James, who has dealt with the pressure of being the face of basketball since Michael Jordan retired.
The league can’t afford their superstars sitting so greedy teams can tank for draft picks. There’s no reason to tune into games. Being a bad team is one thing. But intentionally holding guys out? That’s where the real issue lies.
Sports
Canada captain Sidney Crosby not ruled out for Olympic return
Feb 18, 2026; Milan, Italy; Sidney Crosby of Canada walks out to the ice before a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Veteran captain Sidney Crosby has not been ruled out for the remainder of the Milan Cortina Olympics, Team Canada coach Jon Cooper told reporters on Thursday.
Crosby, 38, sustained an apparent right leg injury in the second period of Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win over Czechia when he ducked under a hit but had Radko Gudas fall over him.
One of a handful of NHL players who competed in the Olympics the last time they were permitted to compete in the Games in 2014, Crosby is doing everything he can to be available for Canada’s semifinal against Finland on Friday.
He underwent an MRI to assess the injury and did not participate in Thursday’s optional team skate, per ESPN.
“Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament,” Cooper said Thursday. “We’ve got the best of the best looking at him. … We’re taking this day by day. And we’re not going to put anyone in harm’s way. But if he can play, he’s definitely going to. We’ll know more again in 24 hours.”
Crosby, who is competing in his third Olympics, is tied for third on the Canadian roster with six points (two goals, four assists) through four games.
Crosby is in his 21st NHL season, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 56 games this season, he has 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists).
Canada is looking to win gold for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mike LaFleur: No time frame for decision on Cardinals QB Kyler Murray
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) leaves the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The assumption around Kyler Murray has been that the quarterback will not return to the Arizona Cardinals for an eighth season.
While that could still be the case, new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur has given no indication of a timeline for when a decision will be made.
“Just like everything else on the roster, open conversations in this building,” LaFleur said in a Wednesday press conference. “No time frame on that.”
Murray, 28, appeared in just five games last season before going on injured reserve with a foot injury that wound up ending his season in early October.
He’s guaranteed $36.8 million for the 2026 season as part of the five-year, $230 million extension he signed with the Cardinals. But he also will have his base salary of $19.5 million for the 2027 season guaranteed if he’s still on the roster March 15, putting a deadline of sorts on when Arizona would need to trade or release him.
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has appeared in eight or fewer games two of the past three seasons. He’s started all 87 career games he has played for the Cardinals, throwing for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions while rushing for 3,193 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Veteran Jacoby Brissett stepped up in place of Murray last season, throwing for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games (12 starts) last season.
Brissett, 33, is a likely starting candidate entering LaFleur’s first season in Arizona if the team doesn’t elect to use its third overall pick in the April draft on a quarterback.
The Cardinals finished 3-14 in the tough NFC West in 2025 and fired coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5 after three seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers sign 2-way F Jabari Walker to NBA deal
Feb 2, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) shoots against Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Brown (24) and center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images The Philadelphia 76ers signed two-way forward Jabari Walker to a standard NBA contract on Thursday.
Walker, 23, was signed to a two-way deal last July after spending the last three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He has appeared in 45 of Philadelphia’s 54 games this season. He’s made six starts and averages 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 12.1 minutes per game.
In 233 career games (30 starts) across four NBA seasons, the former second-round pick has averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds over 15.5 minutes per game.
The 76ers also announced Thursday morning that they signed Tyrese Martin to a two-way contract.
Martin, 26, has appeared in 37 games (six starts) for the Brooklyn Nets this season, averaging 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
–Field Level Media
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