NBA ignores Wizards tanking after player's candid admission
Guard Carrington admitted the Wizards tanked for the No. 1 pick; the NBA took no action.
Bub Carrington, a 2024 first-round pick, told local TV that Washington deliberately held back during the 2025-26 season. "We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa," he said.
The strategy worked: the Wizards finished 17-65 and landed the No. 1 overall pick, which they used on BYU prospect Dybantsa. Despite his comments going public, NBA reporter Sam Amick confirmed the league will not discipline Carrington or the team.
The admission breaks an unspoken rule in professional basketball: teams are not supposed to openly acknowledge tanking, the practice of losing games on purpose to improve draft position.
- 17-65
- Wizards record
- No. 1 overall
- Draft pick secured
- AJ Dybantsa from BYU
- Player drafted
- 2024 first-round pick
- Carrington's draft year
Why it mattersTanking is technically against NBA rules, but the league rarely enforces it when teams are rebuilding, showing the gap between rule and reality.
AustraliaFor Australian NBA fans, this highlights how openly teams pursue losing seasons without real consequences, affecting the integrity of the league Australians watch via Kayo.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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