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
Improving Minnesota United aim to snag win at Crew
Apr 28, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Drake Callender (12) kicks the ball back into play during the second half against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images Despite a pair of losses, Minnesota United coach Cameron Knowles is optimistic about grabbing a historic win at the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Minnesota United seek their first win in Columbus since joining the league in 2017, but due to quirks in the schedule they have played there only twice — losses in 2018 and 2020 — and have not played in the Crew’s current stadium since it opened in 2021.
The Loons (5-3-2, 17 points) had a four-match MLS winning streak snapped in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on April 25, followed by a 4-2 defeat in the U.S. Open Cup at San Jose on Tuesday despite leading the Earthquakes 2-1 in the second half.
It so happens San Jose and LAFC are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the overall league standings and Knowles sees positives despite the setbacks.
“The guys can take a lot a pride in knowing we can compete against any team in this league anywhere,” he said. “We should take so much confidence in our ability to go into some really difficult environments and to play difficult teams and know that we can compete against all of them.”
While the Crew (3-4-3, 12 points) don’t match the quality of San Jose or LAFC in terms of points, they have finally found their footing under first-year coach Henrik Rydstrom with two consecutive wins in MLS play and a 5-1-1 record in their past seven matches in all competitions.
They are getting results despite losing leading scorer Wessam Abou Ali (five goals) to a season-ending knee injury April 12.
Rydstrom is looking for midfielder Hugo Picard to be among those contributing. Picard had two goals apiece in Open Cup wins against lower-tier clubs Richmond and Knoxville this season but has yet to score in 18 career MLS matches.
“What I really like is that he challenges his opponent,” Rydstrom said. “He missed some situations in the beginning (against Knoxville), but he just keeps going. For him, now it’s to take that step into the MLS because he’s so good, he can do it no matter the opponent.”
The match will be a homecoming for Minnesota’s Wil Trapp. The Columbus native played for the Crew from 2013 to 2019 and was the captain his final three seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blues retain Dylan Holloway with five-year, $38.75 million deal
Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (81) controls the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway agreed to a five-year, $38.75 million contract extension, the team announced Friday.
Holloway, who turns 25 in September, is under contract with the team through 2030-31. The deal begins this coming season.
Holloway ranked second on the Blues in points (51) and goals (22) this season in 59 games.
He has 48 goals and 114 points in 136 games with St. Louis after being signed as a free agent following the 2023-24 season.
Holloway was initially a first-round draft pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2020. He played in 89 games for the Oilers over two seasons and had nine goals and 18 points in the regular season.
He excelled in the 2023-24 postseason with five goals in 25 games as the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. He then left to join the Blues.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski no-hits Nats thru 5 1/3, leaves with injury
May 1, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals but left the game with an apparent injury.
After throwing a 98.9-mph swinging strike one to James Wood with one out, Misiorowski looked into the dugout. Manager Pat Murphy and trainer Brad Epstein came out and Misiorowski left the game.
The right-hander was in the midst of a dominant effort, having struck out eight and walked two. He retired the last 12 batters he faced, the final four by strikeout.
Aaron Ashby came on with Milwaukee leading 4-0, struck out Wood and got Luis Garcia Jr. to ground out, extending a combined no-hitter to six innings.
–Field Level Media
Improving Minnesota United aim to snag win at Crew
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