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Inside the NBA’s Tankonomics

With a number of teams tanking and the usual load-management mishegas, the NBA regular season is veering into spring training territory just as the league is trying to justify its multibillion-dollar value to media partners. As one executive recently put it, “The majority of the value of these media deals is centered around the postseason.”

nba los angeles lakers LeBron James Luka Doncic
Penalties pale in comparison to the economic value on the other side of the equation: With modern sports science, players are incentivized to extend their careers much further into their 30s; and in a star-centric league, management generally has to accommodate their talent’s proclivities. Photo: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
John Ourand
February 12, 2026

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I was in an Uber on my way to watch the Lakers play the Spurs at Crypto.com arena on Tuesday when I received a text alerting me that none of the Lakers’ five starters—LeBron James, Luka Dončić, even Austin Reaves—would be playing that night. Five days before the NBA All-Star Game, which is coincidentally also going to be held in L.A., the Lakers ran out a team that might not win a G League all-star game. Jake LaRavia and Kobe Bufkin started; Jaxson Hayes drew the short straw and had to guard the Spurs’ second-year, all-universe center, Victor Wembanyama. I mean, even Bronny James put up 12 points in 25 minutes. The game went pretty much as you’d expect. Wemby dropped 40 in 26 minutes, and San Antonio coasted to a 28-point win.