The NBA’s ongoing challenge with tanking has prompted a straightforward proposal: change what counts in the standings.
The idea is simple—only wins earned after the All-Star break would be counted. Under that framework, games played before the break would not factor into the win totals used to determine where teams finish.
Supporters of the concept argue it would directly target the late-season incentive to lose by placing all competitive value on the stretch run. If only post-break victories matter, teams would have less reason to prioritize losses in the final weeks, when draft positioning can become a driving factor for clubs out of contention.
Why the timing matters
The All-Star break typically divides the season into two distinct phases: an early portion where teams establish their identity and a late portion where playoff races tighten and roster decisions can shift. By making the post-break segment the only one that counts, the proposal centers the league’s competitive stakes on the period when tanking concerns are often most visible.
The proposal is presented as a clear solution the league should consider, built around a single adjustment—counting wins after the All-Star break.