performing poorly or deliberately losing, especially in sports or games; or the act of serving as a tank character in video games to absorb damage.
From 'tank' (originally military vehicle), extended in gaming to mean a character that absorbs hits. Sports usage comes from deliberately playing badly to secure draft picks.
The term 'tanking' in sports like basketball is mathematically incentivized by the draft system—teams that lose get better draft picks, creating a fascinating paradox where losing strategically becomes winning.
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