Before Christmas, the NBA announced it wasinstituting rules to crack down on tanking. One player infavor of anti-tanking rules is Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
On Monday, he specificallycalled out LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets for tanking in front of everyone, per The Draymond Green show.
“A couple of months ago, or a monthago it came out that the NBA is going to crack down on tanking,”Green said. “And I really wonder what that means, like how do you crack down on it.Apparently it will be somethingthey’re altering with the draft position. Not thatthey’re just altering the draft position, but altering how you reach certain positions.Apparently they're going to penalize tanking.
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“I would say great. Thatcan’t happen fast enough. Because the Charlotte Hornetsis a teamthat’s tanking right in your face in plain sight. The fact that they have LaMelo Ball coming off the bench Ifound very interesting. They are a much worse team, and so easy to guard when LaMelo is not on the floor.”
“You have a point guardthat’s built to set all of those guys upand hes on the bench on that team. Idon’t get it. They are tanking in plain sightand you knowthey’re not looking to trade LaMelo because youwouldn't be bringing him off the bench.You’d be playing him so everybody can see him and get excited.”
Green is making the case that the way the Hornets use Ball is a clear, obvious sign of tanking by coming off the bench. However, the Hornets have defended not starting Ball by managing his ankle injuries and controlling minutes.