Adam Silver believes the public perception of tanking is a bigger issue than what teams are actually hoping to accomplish.

"I absolutely don't think any team is trying to lose," Silver said in an interview with ESPN's Andy Katz for "Outside the Lines."

"No player is going out there to lose," Silver continued. "In terms of management, I think there's an absolute legitimate rebuilding process that goes on. It's so hard to win in this league, and it's so complex.

"I think what's happened in the case of Philadelphia -- their strategy has been reduced into a tweet. This notion 'be bad to be good.' ... When it gets reduced into a headline, I understand the reaction."

The Philadelphia 76ers have a 2-23 record and have drafted players with pre-existing long-term injuries each of the past two seasons.

The San Antonio Spurs' run with Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan at its core has been ongoing for more than 15 years.

The Spurs have been able to keep Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili while building a high quality supporting cast around them due to their willingness to take less money.

“All these guys, the core guys, they’ve made less money in San Antonio than counterparts all across the league — people who will say they gave up that, they gave up this,” Popovich said. “But these guys have given up real money with every new contract to stay together. These guys care about quality of life, and it falls into the way they play.”