Brad Stevens hints at 2026-27 NBA season of more competition, less tanking

TL;DR

Brad Stevens suggests the 2026-27 NBA season will feature increased competition and reduced tanking, as teams aim for top draft picks. He emphasizes the need for the Celtics to improve to contend with a stronger league.

Key points

Brad Stevens hints at increased competition in the NBA.
Tanking is a concern for many teams in the league.
Celtics finished second in the East but lost in the playoffs.
2026 draft class is expected to be historically strong.
Several teams are actively seeking top draft picks.

Mentioned in this story

Brad StevensAdam Silver

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersIndiana PacersWashington Wizards

BOSTON — Sunday will be one of the most important days of the 2025-26 NBA season, and it's not because there are two second-round playoff games happening. The annual NBA Draft Lottery will commence in the afternoon, dictating whether or not a struggling squad has a bright future — or if they just wasted a year tanking. While "tanking" is a dirty word in the NBA, there's no hiding its existence, especially this past regular season. League commissioner Adam Silver is committed to ending the practice of intentionally losing, as the bottom five teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences weren't even close to qualifying for the Play-In Tournament, let alone the playoffs.

May 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, US; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver walk through the audience during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Some execs in the Association play dumb and act like there's no tanking going on. However, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations is not one of them. On Wednesday morning during his exit interview at the Auerbach Center, Stevens implied that many teams this season were racing to the bottom rather than competing for a title. "You have to consider, especially for next year, is there were a lot of teams in the NBA that were playing for draft positioning this year," Stevens stated. The Celtics weren't one of those teams. Although they could've tanked with star forward Jayson Tatum recovering from injury for a majority of the 2025-26 campaign, the Green Team played to win and surprisingly finished in second place in the East with a 56-26 record. But, the Celtics disappointed in the postseason and bowed out of the first round after squandering a 3-1 series lead against the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Stevens maintained an honest tone throughout his exit interview, so despite the fact that he was proud of the Celtics for exceeding expectations, he argued that they still have a lot more work to do if they want to contend with the best-of-the-best in the NBA. "I think that the moves to get there, obviously, you have to consider the other teams that are at those levels," he said. "The league's going to be a lot better. The regular season is going to be a lot harder. And it will probably give you a better indication of what everybody really is." Since the 2026 draft class is historically loaded with talented prospects, it's no surprise that multiple franchises, including the , , , and others, were blatantly seeking a top pick. With Silver cracking down on tanking and multiple teams maybe just one quality pick away from competing, Stevens knows the Celtics can't be stagnant. They'll have to improve and tweak their current roster in preparation for the upcoming season, in which outworking other teams with effort might not be as effective. "There's another step to take," Stevens admitted for the Celtics. "And whether you're in my shoes or you're in any of our support staff's shoes, or if you're in our coaches' shoes, or if you're in our players' shoes, we got to get better." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What did Brad Stevens say about tanking in the NBA?

Brad Stevens acknowledged that many teams were playing for draft positioning rather than competing for titles, highlighting the prevalence of tanking in the league.

How did the Boston Celtics perform in the 2025-26 season?

The Celtics finished second in the Eastern Conference with a 56-26 record but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after losing a 3-1 series lead.

What changes are expected in the NBA for the 2026-27 season?

With a historically loaded draft class and a crackdown on tanking, the NBA is expected to see more competition and less intentional losing among teams.

Which teams are reportedly seeking top draft picks for the 2026 NBA Draft?

Teams like the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz are among those looking to secure top draft picks to enhance their rosters.