NBA Commissioner Considers Shortening Game Duration to 40 Minutes
NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed support for the idea of shortening games to 40 minutes by switching from 12 to 10-minute quarters. This remark was made during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.
Silver noted, "As we get more involved in global basketball, the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes. And I would be -- I am -- a fan of four 10-minute quarters." He highlighted that a two-hour format aligns better with modern television habits, as NBA games currently average two hours and 16 minutes.
He compared the length of an NBA game to other formats, stating, "I think of a television program being two hours, Olympic basketball being two hours. And college basketball, of course, is 40 minutes."
Silver's comments came in response to a question about potential changes being discussed by league officials, including the idea of awarding two free throws to shooters fouled on 3-point attempts. He acknowledged that changing the game's duration could significantly affect the sport.
Silver cautioned against altering the game's integrity for the sake of viewership, saying, "I hope we don't become Barnum and Bailey, or do whatever we have to do to keep viewership. Because there's a greatness and a history to this game, and a purity to this game that I hope we can find a way to stay true to."
Changes to the game's length could render many records untouchable and allow key players more time on the court. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau and Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed their concerns about potential changes. Thibodeau remarked, "I'm more of a traditional guy, so I'd hate to see that," while Malone acknowledged the league's efforts to engage fans but warned against overly drastic changes.
