🏀 NBA Tank Index
Which teams have given up? A data-driven look at second-half performance decline across all 30 NBA teams.
Data last updated May 1, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC
Why does a tanking team also show up as cursed? The Tank Index measures intent (resting starters, lineup churn, late-season collapse). The CURSD Luck Score measures the gap between underlying performance and results. Tanking teams play their non-tank games normally — and can get unlucky in those, too. Clicking a team takes you to its full Luck profile, including the tank-aware analysis.
Top 5 Tankers
| # | Team | Record | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Memphis Grizzlies | 2-1 | 76 | 🏳️ Full Tank |
| 2 |  Chicago Bulls | 1-2 | 48 | 📉 Tank Mode |
| 3 |  Dallas Mavericks | 1-1 | 47 | 📉 Tank Mode |
| 4 |  Brooklyn Nets | 3-0 | 39 | 🤔 On the Fence |
| 5 |  Utah Jazz | 2-1 | 29 | 🤔 On the Fence |
| 6 |  Minnesota Timberwolves | 3-1 | 26 | 🤔 On the Fence |
| 7 |  Golden State Warriors | 3-2 | 23 | 🤔 On the Fence |
| 8 |  Washington Wizards | 2-1 | 21 | 🤔 On the Fence |
| 9 |  Phoenix Suns | 1-2 | 12 | 💪 Competing |
| 10 |  Orlando Magic | 2-1 | 10 | 💪 Competing |
| 11 |  Oklahoma City Thunder | 1-3 | 5 | 💪 Competing |
| 12 |  Sacramento Kings | 0-4 | 5 | 💪 Competing |
| 13 |  Toronto Raptors | 2-1 | 3 | 💪 Competing |
| 14 |  New York Knicks | 0-4 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 15 |  San Antonio Spurs | 0-3 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 16 |  Cleveland Cavaliers | 1-2 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 17 |  Philadelphia 76ers | 1-2 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 18 |  Detroit Pistons | 1-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 19 |  Los Angeles Lakers | 2-2 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 20 |  Houston Rockets | 1-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 21 |  Milwaukee Bucks | 1-2 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 22 |  Charlotte Hornets | 1-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 23 |  LA Clippers | 1-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 24 |  Indiana Pacers | 1-2 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 25 |  New Orleans Pelicans | 1-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 26 |  Denver Nuggets | 2-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 27 |  Miami Heat | 2-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 28 |  Boston Celtics | 2-0 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 29 |  Atlanta Hawks | 3-1 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
| 30 |  Portland Trail Blazers | 3-0 | 0 | 💪 Competing |
How is the Tank Index calculated?
The Tank Index measures second-half-season performance decline across 4 signals, each z-scored across all 30 NBA teams:
- 📉 Win% Decline (25%) - Comparing first-half to second-half winning percentage. A large drop suggests the team stopped competing.
- 🏀 Close Game Collapse (20%) - Win rate in games decided by 5 points or fewer, first half vs second half. Tanking teams stop trying in crunch time.
- 📊 Point Differential Decline (20%) - Average margin per game in the first half vs the second half. A widening gap signals effort decline.
- 💀 Late-Season Losing Streaks (15%) - Count of 5+ game losing streaks in games 50-82. Extended skids late in the season are a hallmark of tanking.
- 🆕 New Faces in 2H (20%)- Players who appeared in the second half but weren't part of the first-half rotation (0-3 games in 1H, 5+ in 2H). A high count signals roster teardowns, 10-day contracts, and G-League call-ups replacing veterans.
Note: A high Tank Index does not prove intentional tanking. It simply measures observable performance decline in the second half of the season, which can also result from injuries, roster trades, or fatigue.