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

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‘Built To Lose’ on NBA tanking (pre-order now!) publishes May 4 with @TriumphBooks. I write stories, mostly for @BleacherReport. jakelouisfischer@gmail.com