Charles Barkley Suggests Ticket Price-Focused Solution to Combat Tanking

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and basketball have been frustrated with some NBA teams tanking intentionally.

Charles Barkley Suggests Ticket Price-Focused Solution to Combat Tanking

Adam Silver and Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Charles Barkley proposes that NBA teams below .500 should not be allowed to raise ticket prices.
  • He suggests giving every lottery team one ping pong ball to prevent draft manipulation.
  • Barkley advocates for eliminating protected draft picks to discourage teams from tanking.

Charles Barkley has witnessed the NBA move from the normal draft to the lottery, to now, when tanking has become a serious problem as teams intentionally throw games for a higher draft pick.

The lottery still tries to keep it sane, just as it happened last season when the basketball world felt that the Utah Jazz would get a No. 1 overall pick, only for it to surprisingly land in the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. The latter had a 1.8% chance, but still managed to get their hands on Cooper Flagg, whereas the Jazz, who had a 14% chance, dropped down to fifth, with which they selected Ace Bailey.

This season, their efforts to boost their lottery odds have been so brazen that the NBA slapped a heavy fine. After their owner laughed off those fines, it drew backlash, as it proved that team owners with their billions did not care.

We’ve got to come up with some type of solution because it’s not fair to the game, first and foremost. It’s not fair to your fan base. I’ve always suggested this rule. I don’t think any NBA team should be able to raise their ticket prices if they’re below .500.

Charles Barkley said on Inside the NBA

The Hall of Famer believes that currently, teams are not just making it difficult for fans by tanking, but also by then raising ticket prices, just as the Dallas Mavericks did last year.

Charles Barkley hopes such rules are implemented in every sport, but the NBA in general needs some tough policing. Otherwise, teams have their way.

Charles Barkley gives some more ideas on how to combat tanking

Charles Barkley‘s idea to stop teams under .500 from raising ticket prices could face some blowback from team owners, but nothing speaks more than money.

Adam Silver has a tanking problem
Adam Silver has a tanking problem (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

However, the Round Mound of Rebound has some other suggestions, in case the league cannot convince billionaires to stop making more money when the team is not playing well.

Every team in the lottery should get one ping pong ball. They shouldn’t give you more balls… Give everybody one ping pong ball if you don’t make the playoffs. Also, this is another one. If you trade a pick, it’s gone. Because now teams can manipulate if it falls in the top three, four, or top seven protected. No.

Charles Barkley said

The just turned 63-year-old believes that in the current format, struggling teams are manipulating the draft by losing enough games to hold on to a protected pick, just like how the Washington Wizards are doing.

Instead, being unable to deal with protected picks can stop teams from deliberately throwing games. The other suggestion of leveling the playing field has been taken up by the NBA as a possible option, and should be implemented next season.

Charles Barkley’s suggestions could help avoid tanking

When Adam Silver’s NBA came out with a set of fresh ideas to combat tanking, not many were moved by it. Even though fans were ecstatic, some in the media pointed out how those new rules could be manipulated.

Charles Barkley’s ideas, on the other hand, clearly take out the incentives. Money speaks louder than anything, and freezing ticket prices can force the hand of owners.

Add to that, when they level the playing field with the same odds for non-playoff teams, there would be a desire to compete. As long as there are no additional caveats, these two should be enough to stop teams from thinking about tanking.

Then, the league has to stop the protected picks. Swaps are fine, as there should be some leverage for underperforming teams. But stopping draft pick protection can help avoid tanking.

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