NEW YORK (AP) — Tanking is going to be addressed. The 65-game rule might remain.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insisted Wednesday that the league will change its draft process and address its tanking problem before the start of next season. And he pointed to the league's player participation policy — citing the effect it has had on load management — as proof of how the league can make effective fixes.
The league's board of governors discussed tanking — the issue of teams trying not to win in order to enhance their odds of landing the best possible draft pick — at its two-day meeting that ended Wednesday. No votes were taken and no fingers were pointed at any specific teams, Silver said.
“We are going to fix it,” Silver said. “Full stop.”
Silver said the league has been working on the most recent tanking issues for months — and noted that the NBA has addressed the problem countless times over the years, including with several changes to the draft and lottery process.
“I would say it seemed unanimous in the room that we needed to make a change, and we need to make a change for next season," Silver said at a news conference, wrapping up the two-day session with owners. "Exactly what that change is, we’re continuing to work on. ... I think there’s also unanimous agreement that we need to make this change in advance of the draft and free agency this year, so all the teams understand the rules of the road going into next year.”
The next step, Silver said, will likely be a special board meeting in May to get something done. The league's general managers have discussed the matter multiple times, and numerous teams have offered some sort of suggestion about how to fix the issue.
Utah was fined $500,000 for sitting some of its best players late in games earlier this season, including one the Jazz actually won. Three teams — Sacramento, Indiana and Washington — have had losing streaks of 16 games so far this season, and other teams like Brooklyn have not been shy about saying they're looking at the future more than the present.
“I will say I really like where the league is right now. I’m sorry to have to talk about tanking because it takes away from the incredible competition we’re seeing from roughly 20 teams in the league right now, going into a wide-open playoffs, so many different teams,” Silver said. “It’s really exciting basketball. ... Of course, the opposite of that is when there’s a sense that both teams aren’t out there trying to kill themselves to win a game. As I said, we have to fix that problem.”
In other matters addressed Wednesday:
Silver responded to the National Basketball Players Association's statement Tuesday calling for change to the 65-game rule for major individual awards.
The NBPA, through collective bargaining, agreed to that rule as part of the current agreement between the league and its players. It pointed to the case of Detroit star Cade Cunningham, who would almost certainly be an All-NBA selection this season but may fall short of qualifying because of the 65-game threshold.
“We always knew when there’s a line you draw that somebody’s going to fall on the other side of that line and it may feel unfair in that particular instance," Silver said. "Let’s see what happens at the end of this year. By the way, Cade Cunningham, he’s an incredible player. I’m sorry that he’s injured and can’t wait to see him back on the floor.
"But having said that, we also have to remember that to the extent that one player is no longer eligible, some other player will then be All-NBA and will slot into that spot. I’m not ready to stand here saying, I don’t think it’s working. I think it is working.”
The NBPA believes the rule should focus on preventing “excessive load management,” and that precautions should be taken so players don't miss out on deserved recognition or get forced to play when injured just to meet a games-played standard.
Silver said the NBA's governors — many of whom have a significant stake in the WNBA as well — discussed the new collective bargaining agreement between that league and its players.
“People were extremely happy about the fact that the collective bargaining situation was resolved in time to save training camp and free agency and the season,” Silver said.
Silver was asked if he thought WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert would keep that role after the 2026 season.
“We haven’t had those discussions yet with the WNBA board," Silver said. “I would obviously say Cathy’s done a fantastic job since she’s come to the WNBA. ... I would say the results speak for themselves. I’m very happy, and I know the ownership is very happy with where things stand.”
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon's agreement to buy the Portland Trail Blazers from Paul Allen's estate could be finalized in the next few days. Dundon was at the board meeting on Tuesday, presumably one of the final steps in the process before the governors give their blessing.
“He’s a go-getter,” Silver said. “He’s got a great reputation as sort of leading a turnaround in the NHL. He certainly has enormous passion and spirit. He wants to be successful. He wants to be successful both as a businessman in Portland, and he wants to be successful with the team on the floor.”
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets a fan during an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After a surprise victory in a Florida special election, Emily Gregory said she's excited to represent all of her constituents — and that includes President Donald Trump.
“I would love to have a conversation,” the Democrat told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “He’s welcome to call me, as I am his new state representative.”
The president’s Mar-a-Lago resort is part of Gregory’s district, which is anchored by Palm Beach. Although state legislative races rarely get the national spotlight, Democrats across the country were positively euphoric at the irony of their Republican nemesis being represented by one of their own.
Gregory's victory is the latest example of how Democrats have flipped seats in a series of special elections that could be a sign of momentum in a midterm election year that will provide a political verdict on Trump’s second term.
Here was a 40-year-old first-time candidate who owns a local fitness company for pregnant and postpartum women defeating a Republican whom Trump had endorsed by saying he was backed “by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.”
Gregory's win was especially sweet for Florida Democrats, who have been beaten down by years of Republican domination in what was once the consummate battleground state. Democrats are also hopeful that Brian Nathan will win a state senate seat in the Tampa area; the AP has not yet called that race but he currently has a narrow lead that is within the state’s automatic recount range.
“The pendulum swings in both directions,” Florida Democratic Chairwoman Nikki Fried told reporters. “Last night it swung hard in the state of Florida."
She added, "If we can win in Donald Trump’s backyard, we can win anywhere.”
Florida Republican Chairman Evan Power did not return a message seeking comment. Trump said nothing Wednesday about the race.
For Gregory, it has been a stunning introduction to the national spotlight.
“I believed in myself the whole time,” Gregory said, describing her political “naiveté” about the district and its conservative leanings as an asset. She was elected to finish the term of Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned to become Palm Beach County’s clerk, and she would need to run again in November if she wants to keep the seat.
Gregory told the AP she did not make her contest about the president specifically, focusing instead on constituents’ concerns involving the economy and everyday costs — from fast-rising insurance in the hurricane-prone district to groceries and gas.
She described herself as a lifelong “proud Florida Democrat” but said she did not view herself as a Trump opposition leader. She said she will go to Tallahassee focused on proposals to limit insurance rate hikes, expand health care access, support public education and lift “huge, crushing burdens on the average Florida family.”
“I just see myself as very embedded in my community, very representative of District 87,” she said. “And I’m so humbled and proud to be their representative.”
Gregory expects to be sworn in before a special legislative session that begins April 20 to redraw the state's congressional map. It's a Republican initiative intended to boost the party's chances to hold onto its thin majority in the U.S. House, and Gregory said she plans to oppose the effort.
She described the session as a “complete power grab” resulting from “the president's call to gerrymander in favor of Republicans.”
Trump endorsed Gregory’s opponent, Jon Maples, and cast a mail ballot in the contest. The president reiterated his support for Maples on the eve of the election with a social media post addressed to “ALL GREAT PATRIOTS.”
Fried praised Gregory and Nathan, a 45-year-old veteran and union worker, as quality candidates who could capitalize on the broader political environment.
“The type of person and connection on the issues matters,” Fried said.
Gregory flipped a seat that her Republican predecessor had won by 19 percentage points. Fried said Trump carried the district by 11 points in 2024.
Republicans still dominate the Florida Legislature, and they have been considered heavy favorites to hold the governor’s office in November, four years after Gov. Ron DeSantis won a blowout reelection campaign.
But Fried and other Democrats insisted the trends suggest a competitive landscape. She noted that Tuesday's victories followed two congressional special elections in 2025 when Florida Democrats lost but dramatically narrowed the usual margins in heavily Republican districts.
“You've seen tremendous overspending by Republicans,” Fried said of the current cycle. “It's not working.”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly said Wednesday the results demonstrate an upswing for the party as long as candidates address the economy.
“Change is here,” said Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties. “Voters are giving us an opportunity in Florida that they haven’t given us in years.”
A spokesman for Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whom Trump has endorsed for Florida governor, took at least some notice of the latest results.
“We constantly assess how we execute our strategy — that’s just good campaigns,” said Ryan Smith, Donalds' chief campaign strategist. “What won’t change is our mission: President Trump endorsed Byron Donalds to deliver real results and defend the Florida Dream, and that’s what voters can expect to see from us.”
Gregory, meanwhile, said she's ready to get to work, including for Trump.
“I will work as hard for every single one of 180,000 constituents in District 87,” she said, “and not elevate anyone over the rest.”
Barrow reported from Atlanta.
President Donald Trump speaks during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
FILE - An aerial view of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
In this screenshot taken from video Florida State Rep.-elect Emily Gregory speaks with the Associated Press from Palm Beach, Florida, about her special election win where she flipped a district that is home to President Donald Trump's estate, Mar-a-Lago, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo)
