NBA clears Sacramento Kings of tanking allegations in loss to Warriors
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The NBA cleared Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie of tanking accusations after he instructed his team to intentionally foul Seth Curry during a game against the Golden State Warriors, ruling it a coaching mistake rather than an effort to lose.
- Christie ordered the foul to preserve a timeout and draw up a play, unaware the Kings were already in the bonus, which allowed Curry two free throws instead of an inbound possession.
- Despite social media backlash and criticism from Warriors player Draymond Green, evidence shows the Kings have not been tanking, as they improved their record significantly since late February and Christie has publicly opposed tanking.
- The incident underscores ongoing challenges the NBA faces in addressing tanking, with recent fines imposed on other teams and upcoming changes to the lottery system aimed at preserving competitive integrity.
