Built to Lose: How the NBA’s Tanking Era Changed the League Forever

by Jake Fischer

“From front offices to college campuses, Jake Fischer takes you on an engrossing tour of the NBA in its latest golden age, when some of the most captivating teams won by losing.” —Lee Jenkins, former  Sports Illustrated  NBA writer  An insider account of modern NBA team-building, based on hundreds of exclusive interviews  A single transcendent talent can change the fortunes of an NBA franchise. One only has to recall the frenzy surrounding recent top pick Zion Williamson to recognize teams’ willingness to lose games now for the sake of winning championships later. It’s a story that weaves its way behind closed doors to reveal intricate machinations normally hidden from public view.   Backed by extensive reporting and hundreds of interviews with top players, coaches, and executives, Jake Fischer chronicles secret pre-draft workouts, feuding between player agents and executives, surprising trade negotiations, interpersonal conflicts, organizational power struggles, and infamous public relations fiascos, making for a fascinating look at the NBA.  The definitive account of the NBA’s tanking era, when teams raced to the bottom in the hope of eventually winning a championship. 

Genres: Sports, Basketball

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Vu Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The research involved and Jake’s thoroughness in writing this book earn it 5 stars.

[Jessica Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love basketball and the NBA so these kinds of books revealing internal and behind-the-scenes stuff always fascinate me. I never loved the tanking era and I'm glad things like changes to the lottery and the play-in tournament are easing us out of it.

[Tim Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any Sixers or NBA fan will enjoy reading this book. Thorough, entertaining read about the tanking, player evaluation and team building strategies employed by several teams over the past 10 years.