“Not Ethical to the Game”: Michael Porter Jr. Blasts NBA Teams

Brooklyn Nets star Michael Porter Jr. has voiced strong criticism of the growing trend of teams intentionally losing games in pursuit of better draft lottery odds. Speaking candidly during a recent interview, Porter argued that the practice undermines the spirit of competition and disrespects fans who pay to watch NBA teams compete at their highest level. His remarks arrive during a season in which discussions about tanking have dominated the league narrative.

Krishna Sagar
March 8, 2026
4 min read

“Not Ethical to the Game”: Michael Porter Jr. Blasts NBA Teams — Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The debate around competitive integrity in the NBA has intensified this season, and one player is not hiding where he stands.

Michael Porter Jr., a key figure for the Brooklyn Nets, recently delivered blunt thoughts about teams that appear willing to sacrifice an entire season in hopes of landing a higher pick in the draft lottery.

While rebuilding strategies have long existed in professional sports, Porter believes the modern approach has crossed a line.

His comments came during an appearance on The Emily Austin Show, where the Nets forward addressed the issue directly. For Porter, the concern goes beyond strategy. He believes the practice damages the competitive foundation of the league.

1. Porter Jr. Questions the Ethics of the Strategy

Porter did not soften his words when discussing the topic.“They’ve got to do something about this situation,” he said. “I don’t like how teams are deliberately trying to lose to get a good draft pick. I just think that throwing full NBA seasons down the drain is not the way to go.”

The Nets forward went even further when describing how he views the practice from an ethical standpoint.“It’s not very ethical to the game,” Porter said. “People pay a lot of money to watch the best players in the world compete. You want to see teams competing to their fullest ability every single night.”

In Porter’s view, fans deserve to see authentic competition every time they walk into an arena or tune in to a game.

“When teams are doing some of the stuff that they’re doing nowadays, it can be tough,” he added.

2. League Leaders Also Address the Issue

The discussion surrounding tanking has been especially loud during the 2025–26 season. Several teams have been accused by fans and analysts of prioritizing draft positioning over winning games.

The NBA has already taken action in some cases. Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that the league office is examining ways to discourage teams from manipulating lineups or resting healthy players in ways that could influence outcomes.

Earlier this season, the Utah Jazz were fined $500,000 for violating the league’s player participation policy, while the Indiana Pacers were penalized $100,000 under similar circumstances.

The penalties signaled that the league is paying close attention to how teams approach rebuilding strategies.

3. Porter Jr.’s Comments Come Amid Brooklyn’s Struggles

Porter’s remarks are particularly interesting given the current position of the Nets.Brooklyn sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 16–47 record, placing the team in a strong position in the upcoming draft lottery. For many organizations, that situation would naturally lead to speculation about draft positioning.

Yet Porter has made it clear that he does not believe intentionally losing games is the right approach.He pointed out that even teams that pursue high draft picks are not guaranteed success.

“You may lose for a whole season and then you might not even get the draft pick you want,” Porter said. “Even if you do get the pick you want, that player might not pan out to what you thought he would be.”

In Porter’s mind, the strategy can ultimately backfire and delay a team’s progress.“Now you just set your program back years and years and years,” he added.

4. Nets Show Fight With Statement Win

If there were any questions about Brooklyn’s effort level, the team delivered a response on the court.The Nets recently stunned the top seeded Detroit Pistons with a dramatic 107–105 comeback victory on the road. Brooklyn erased a 23 point deficit to secure the win, demonstrating the kind of competitiveness Porter believes the league should prioritize.

The victory served as a reminder that players themselves often reject the idea of losing on purpose, regardless of their team’s position in the standings.

Porter acknowledged that rebuilding is sometimes necessary in professional sports. However, he believes there is a difference between developing young talent and deliberately putting a non competitive product on the court.

“I understand teams rebuilding,” Porter said. “But I feel like there’s an ethical way to do it and a non ethical way to do it.” His final message was simple. “I just feel like the best players should be on the floor night to night.”