In the 2024-25 season, the Toronto Raptors are experiencing a significant decline, shifting from a championship-winning team to one engaged in blatant tanking. Masai Ujiri's previous stance against tanking has given way to a strategy that prioritizes securing a better draft position over playoff aspirations. This shift reflects a broader trend across the NBA, where multiple teams are opting to lose intentionally to improve their lottery odds as the integrity of the game faces scrutiny.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic's decision to rest key players in crucial games has drawn criticism, as it deviates from traditional competitive norms. The Raptors' current predicament is emblematic of a league-wide issue, as many franchises seem to be following suit, resulting in a lack of competitiveness and poor-quality basketball late in the season. With discussions around reforming the draft and penalizing tanking intensifying, the future of the league’s integrity hangs in the balance.