Everyone in the NBA knows tanking exists. It’s the worst-kept secret in professional sports. Front offices suddenly decide to rest veterans with “sore hamstrings,” give raw prospects the ultimate green light to make mistakes, and cross their fingers that the ping-pong balls bounce their way in May.
But the one golden rule of tanking? You never admit you’re tanking.
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington apparently missed that memo. In a recent, remarkably candid interview with WUSA9’s Marshall Kramsky, the 21-year-old dropped a bombshell that essentially confirmed what every basketball fan in the District watched unfold last season.
“We Were Held Back”
When discussing the necessary culture shift heading into the 2026-27 season, Carrington didn’t sugarcoat how the roster was managed during their abysmal campaign last year.
“We just haven’t been told yet to go be the best version of yourself,” Carrington revealed. “We’ve all, in a way, been held back just because… we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret.”
He didn’t stop there, making sure to highlight how different the vibe is in training camp now that the mission has been accomplished.
“But now, no one has handcuffs. Everyone’s shackles free.”
Let that sink in. A roster full of competitive, professional athletes was essentially given the red light. The overarching goal wasn’t development through winning habits; it was development through strategic losing. And from a pure asset-management perspective, it worked flawlessly. The Wizards finished with the worst record in the league, secured the No. 1 overall pick, and landed Dybantsa—the unquestioned crown jewel of the 2026 draft class.
Adam Silver is Watching
Fans might appreciate the honesty—after all, it validates the pain of watching 82 games of disjointed, developmental basketball—but the NBA front office won’t be thrilled.
Commissioner Adam Silver has spent the better part of a decade trying to legislate tanking out of the league. He flattened the draft lottery odds specifically to discourage the “Trust the Process” model made famous by the Philadelphia 76ers. When players publicly admit that their team was intentionally trying to lose, it threatens the integrity of the game. It raises massive red flags for the league’s lucrative sports betting partnerships.
Carrington’s comments might not explicitly prove that the front office ordered coaches to blow games, but admitting the roster was “held back” to get Dybantsa is enough smoke for the league office to start looking for a fire.
Shackles Free in the District
For the Wizards, the damage is done—both the good and the bad. The bad? The franchise might be staring down a hefty fine or some incredibly uncomfortable phone calls from the commissioner’s office.
The good? They got their guy.
If Carrington is to be believed, the training wheels are finally off. With Dybantsa officially in the fold and young talent like Bub finally cleared to be the “best version” of themselves, Washington’s culture has to shift immediately from intentional losing to building a winning foundation.
The tank is over. Now, they actually have to prove they can win.
