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NBA Commissioner Considering ‘Dramatic Change to the Game’

Could NBA games be shortened? Adam Silver weighs new changes to align with 'modern television habits.'

In a surprising revelation that could reshape the future of professional basketball, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suggested that the league is exploring a potential reduction in game length—a move he described as a “dramatic change to the game.” 

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show on January 29, Silver shared his thoughts on shortening NBA games from 48 minutes to 40 minutes, aligning them with international and college basketball standards.

“I’m probably in the minority—as we get more involved in global basketball, the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes,” Silver said. “And I am a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I’m not sure that many others are.”

Silver explained that this adjustment would make NBA games closer to two hours, which he believes better suits modern viewing habits. “Putting aside what it means for records and things like that, I think that a two-hour format, for a game, is more consistent with modern television habits,” he stated. While fans attending games in arenas may not be asking for shorter games, Silver emphasized the importance of adapting to how audiences consume sports on TV and streaming platforms.

“Olympic basketball is two hours, college basketball, of course, is 40 minutes,” Silver noted. He expressed interest in creating “a more consistent set of rules globally around the game,” reflecting the league’s growing international influence.

However, Silver acknowledged the magnitude of such a shift and stressed that it’s not something that would happen overnight. “It’s such a dramatic change to the game and I think something like that would have to be talked more about over time,” he said.

Silver also pointed to Major League Baseball’s recent success with rule changes—such as implementing a pitch clock—as an example of how sports leagues can innovate while maintaining fan engagement. “If [Major League Baseball] is able to make those changes, certainly we shouldn’t be afraid to look at changes as well,” Silver said.

While no formal plans have been announced, Silver’s comments signal the NBA’s willingness to evolve and adapt to modern trends in sports consumption—perhaps more in focus as the league has been recently scrutinized over its three pointer-heavy style and potential ratings woes. This potential shift could significantly impact how fans experience the game and how players approach competition.

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