Published 2026-03-17
The Sacramento Kings, bless their purple hearts, were a punchline for 16 years. Sixteen seasons of lottery purgatory, of "next year" promises, of drafting Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic. But last year, something shifted. They weren't just good; they were joyful. And a significant, albeit often understated, reason for that shift? The play-in tournament.
Before 2020, the NBA's competitive balance was a seesaw. A handful of superteams at the top, a few genuine contenders, and a vast wasteland of perpetual tankers. Teams like the Knicks, the Timberwolves, and yes, the Kings, seemed content to bottom out, hoard draft picks, and hope for a generational talent to fall into their laps. The incentive to be merely "good" was almost non-existent.
Remember "The Process" 76ers? A masterclass in strategic losing, culminating in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. While it ultimately bore fruit, it also created a blueprint for other franchises, encouraging years of deliberate mediocrity. The league's anti-tanking measures, like flattening lottery odds, helped marginally, but the allure of a top-3 pick remained a siren song for struggling franchises.
The 2018-19 season saw the Knicks win just 17 games. The Cavaliers managed 19. The Suns, 19. These weren't just bad teams; many were actively incentivized to be as bad as possible to maximize their lottery odds. Fans suffered through unwatchable basketball, knowing their team's best chance at improvement lay in their worst performance.
Adam Silver, ever the innovator, introduced the play-in tournament in 2020, initially as a pandemic-era necessity. It became permanent in 2021. Suddenly, the 7th through 10th seeds in each conference had a fighting chance at the playoffs. The impact was immediate and profound.
Consider the Western Conference last season. The OKC Thunder, projected by many to be a lottery team, finished 10th with a 40-42 record. They ousted the Pelicans in the play-in before falling to Denver. Would a 40-win team in the pre-play-in era have even bothered to push for that many victories? Unlikely. They'd have been better off losing a few more to improve their draft position.
The play-in has effectively created a new tier of competitive teams. No longer is 8th place the cut-off; now, 10th place offers a glimmer of hope. This seemingly small tweak has injected meaning into late-season games for a significant chunk of the league. It's not just about avoiding the play-in; it's about making it.
The result? Fewer outright tank jobs. Teams are now actively pursuing that 8th, 9th, or 10th spot. The Orlando Magic, after years of rebuilding, finished 13th in the East with 34 wins last year. This year, they're legitimately pushing for a direct playoff spot. Their growth isn't just organic; it's fueled by the tangible goal the play-in provides.
The competitive balance, while still top-heavy, has expanded its middle. More teams are trying to win, which means more competitive games, particularly down the stretch. It's a win for the fans, who no longer have to endure blatant attempts to lose. It's a win for the players, whose effort now has a more direct impact on their playoff aspirations.
The NBA's play-in tournament, initially a stopgap, has become a permanent fixture and a revolutionary force. It hasn't eliminated tanking entirely, but it has significantly reduced its appeal for many franchises. My hot take: within five years, the league will expand the play-in to include the 11th and 12th seeds, further incentivizing competitive play and creating even more meaningful late-season drama.