The Most Recent Example of Dumping Games
In 1996, seven teams were vying for the #1 pick in the upcoming draft. The prize: Tim Duncan, a franchise-changing big man with a boring, yet undeniably effective game. By losing excessively down the stretch those 7 teams went a combined 13-57 in the last ten games of the season. The Spurs conveniently lost their last 6
(the only team to do so) and secured the 3rd worst record in the league at 20-62 or more accurately stated: 3rd best in the Tim Duncan sweepstakes. The record itself may not be enough to assume tanking but consider the following:
- Questions were raised about whether David Robinson’s foot fracture had healed to the point where he could and should be playing.
- Similar to the Houston debacle this team was su iously led by another well-past-his-prime superstar in Dominique Wilkins (age 37). At the same time other healthy, younger players were being sidelined and rested for no apparent reason. Here’s Barkley’s first hand account after a game vs. the Spurs in 1997:
That was significant in that the Nuggets, Sixers and Mavericks finished just 1, 2 & 4 games better than the Spurs, so winning even one of those last 6 games could have been the difference between getting #2 pick Keith Van Horn rather than Duncan. That was one of the biggest turnarounds considering the Spurs were 59-23 the previous season.
Two years later
(a much faster turnaround than Houston) had San Antonio winning the 1st of 4 championships in 9 years – led by Duncan. With this much success from allegedly losing games on purpose, can we really believe it won’t happen again in the near future?