Finally. Finally, someone with actual power is saying what we've all been thinking.
Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns, just went on a social media tirade about tanking, and he didn't pull a single punch. He called teams that purposely lose games a "disgrace" and said it "impacts the integrity of the whole league."
But here's the part that made me stand up and applaud: Ishbia said tanking is "much worse than any prop bet scandal." He said teams are "throwing games strategically."
Let that sink in. An NBA owner is saying tanking is worse than gambling scandals. That's not just criticism - that's a shot across the bow of every team that's shut down healthy players to chase draft picks.
Look, I've been saying this for years on the radio. Tanking is a stain on basketball. It's disrespectful to the fans who pay good money to watch NBA games. It's unfair to the players who actually want to compete. And it makes a mockery of the sport when teams are openly trying to lose.
Ishbia isn't some random commentator like me - he owns a franchise. He has a seat at the table. When he calls for "massive changes" and expresses confidence that Commissioner Adam Silver will fix it, that carries weight.
Here's what Ishbia understands: There's a difference between being bad and tanking. If you're a young team that's rebuilding and you just don't have the talent yet? Fine. That's part of sports. You get a good draft pick, you build through the draft, and hopefully you get better.
But purposely shutting down players who could play? Sitting healthy guys because you don't want to win too many games? That's not rebuilding - that's manipulation. That's gaming the system. And it absolutely affects the integrity of the league.
Think about it from a fan's perspective. You buy tickets to watch your team play the Rockets or the Pistons, and they're sitting their best players even though they're healthy. You're not getting your money's worth. You're watching a JV squad because the franchise has decided losing is more valuable than competing.
And yes, Ishbia is right - it's worse than prop betting scandals. When a player bets on props, that's an individual breaking the rules. When a franchise tanks, that's institutional corruption. That's the organization itself deciding that the integrity of competition doesn't matter.
I don't know what Silver is going to do about this, but the pressure is mounting. When owners start going public with these complaints, that forces action. The question is: What's the fix? Flattened lottery odds? Harsher penalties? A complete redesign of how draft picks are distributed?
Whatever it is, it needs to happen. Because Ishbia is right - this is a disgrace, and the NBA deserves better.
That's what sports is all about, folks - competition. Real, honest competition. Not strategic losing.

