Date of Completion

Spring 4-28-2016

Thesis Advisor(s)

Thomas Miceli

Honors Major

Economics

Disciplines

Behavioral Economics | Economic Theory | Labor Economics | Other Economics | Sports Studies

Abstract

It has been speculated that franchises in the NBA (national basketball association) lose on purpose because of the benefits that coincide with a team having a poor overall record. Teams that perform the worst are given the highest draft selections in the following season's rookie player draft, thus theoretically improving their chances of becoming a more winning team. Previous economists have used various methodology to prove that NBA teams do in fact lose on purpose; or tank. This paper builds upon this previous methodology to examine the direct impact, negative or positive, that losing on purpose has had on various NBA franchises.

Share

COinS