#101 - Can the NBA's Tanking Problem Be Fixed? w/ Tone of BME Pod episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 22, 2026 · 1H

#101 - Can the NBA's Tanking Problem Be Fixed? w/ Tone of BME Pod

from Deep Cover Podcast · host Omar Zahran

The All-Star break is over and the race to the bottom is back in the spotlight. Host Omar Zahran sits down with Tone from the BME Pod to break down the NBA's latest proposals to combat tanking — from restructuring pick protections to freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline and extending the lottery to play-in teams. Are these bold solutions, or just reactionary band-aids from a league playing catch-up?Omar and Tone dig into which proposals could actually work, how tanking is undermining the integrity of the game, and why the timing of teams like the Utah Jazz sitting their stars couldn't have come at a worse moment for the league's image. They also get into the ethics of tanking — when is it a smart rebuild strategy versus an insult to the fans paying to watch?Plus, Tone shares highlights from his NBA All-Star Weekend experience in LA, covering players for Threads and Instagram with the now-legendary oversized mic, and what it was really like behind the scenes at one of the league's biggest events.A special thanks to Tone for joining me this week. Make sure to check out BME Pod HERE. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to follow Deep Cover on your favorite podcast app of choice.

The All-Star break is over and the race to the bottom is back in the spotlight. Host Omar Zahran sits down with Tone from the BME Pod to break down the NBA's latest proposals to combat tanking — from restructuring pick protections to freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline and extending the lottery to play-in teams. Are these bold solutions, or just reactionary band-aids from a league playing catch-up?Omar and Tone dig into which proposals could actually work, how tanking is undermining the integrity of the game, and why the timing of teams like the Utah Jazz sitting their stars couldn't have come at a worse moment for the league's image. They also get into the ethics of tanking — when is it a smart rebuild strategy versus an insult to the fans paying to watch?Plus, Tone shares highlights from his NBA All-Star Weekend experience in LA, covering players for Threads and Instagram with the now-legendary oversized mic, and what it was really like behind the scenes at one of the league's biggest events.A special thanks to Tone for joining me this week. Make sure to check out BME Pod HERE. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to follow Deep Cover on your favorite podcast app of choice.

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#101 - Can the NBA's Tanking Problem Be Fixed? w/ Tone of BME Pod

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This episode was published on February 22, 2026.

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The All-Star break is over and the race to the bottom is back in the spotlight. Host Omar Zahran sits down with Tone from the BME Pod to break down the NBA's latest proposals to combat tanking — from restructuring pick protections to freezing...

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