Evan Fournier, a former guard for the Detroit Pistons, recently discussed a major problem in the NBA: tanking. This practice means teams intentionally lose games to get better draft picks. Fournier called it “one of the dark sides” of the league.
He believes it hurts team spirit and is tough for veteran players who still want to compete. Tanking affects not just the teams but the fairness of the whole game, highlighting concerns many fans and players have in professional basketball.
Evan Fournier experienced the consequences of tanking firsthand during his final season with the Pistons, a team that finished 14-68. As he noted in an interview with EuroHoops, “One of the dark sides of the NBA is when teams are losing on purpose to get higher draft picks. Tanking…it’s real.” This losing culture was frustrating for him, particularly as he had only made the playoffs four times in his 12-year NBA career.
To combat tanking, the NBA revamped its draft lottery system in 2019, giving the three teams with the worst records each a 14% chance to obtain the first pick rather than allowing only the worst team a 25% chance. This change aims to deter teams from intentionally losing games.
Evan Fournier Reflects On Tanking Issues And His Positive Transition To Olympiacos
The league has also implemented stricter penalties for tanking, evidenced by the Dallas Mavericks being fined $750,000 in 2023 for resting key players during crucial games. Furthermore, introducing an In-Season Tournament, which offers $500,000 to each player on the winning team, encourages teams to compete earnestly.
Despite these efforts, Evan Fournier still sees ongoing issues with tanking, particularly regarding the disappointment of not receiving adequate playing time. He observes that sports have increasingly become a business, which can detract from genuine competition.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
After signing a two-year, $4 million deal with EuroLeague’s Olympiacos, Fournier reflected positively on his transition, stating, “It’s like every planet has aligned for me to come here.” “Sometimes there’s things you can’t explain. It’s like when you find your wife – you can’t explain. I’ve always looked at Olympiacos like a club that means something to me. I don’t know why.“
Now 32, Evan Fournier averaged 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the NBA and recently won silver with France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Also Read: French Basketball Star Evan Fournier Criticizes FIBA Over Early Morning Drug Testing
