The NBA’s latest anti-tanking overhaul received overwhelming support from team owners, but not without one notable exception.
The league’s Board of Governors approved the new draft lottery reforms by a 29-1 vote, with the Memphis Grizzlies casting the only vote against the proposal, sources told ESPN.
The package includes several major changes designed to discourage tanking and reduce the incentive for teams to intentionally lose games in pursuit of better draft odds.
According to ESPN, Memphis’ opposition was not rooted in the broader anti-tanking measures themselves, but rather one specific provision within the new system.
The Grizzlies objected to the rule preventing a team from landing a top-five draft pick in three consecutive years.
As Bobby Marks noted, the Grizzlies currently own the most favorable 2027 first-round selection among Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah.
Because the Jazz are projected to receive another top-five pick this year, the new rules would automatically make Utah ineligible for a top-five selection in 2027.
That restriction could potentially reduce the value and upside of the pick Memphis controls, giving the Grizzlies a direct competitive reason to oppose the reform despite widespread support from the rest of the league.
Sources said the Grizzlies voted against the new lottery reform solely because of the new rule disallowing a team from picking top 5 in 3 consecutive years. As @BobbyMarks42 says, the Grizzlies have the more favorable 2027 first-rounder of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah, and… https://t.co/BMbYAbr776
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026
