About time somebody said it … NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has always been open to exploring potential changes to the league, and he recently discussed some intriguing ideas for the future of the game. Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Silver shared his thoughts on modifying the structure of NBA games, including the possibility of shortening quarters and altering free-throw rules.
Get this, Silver’s most eye-catching suggestion was reducing the length of NBA quarters from 12 minutes to 10 minutes, something he described as “a fan” of, though he admitted, “I’m probably in a minority” on this. “As we get more involved in global basketball, the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes,” Silver explained. “I think a two-hour format for a game is more consistent with modern television habits.”
He noted that international basketball competitions, like the Olympics and college games, typically run for about two hours, making the NBA’s 48-minute format a potential outlier.While Silver acknowledged that fans in arenas aren’t calling for shorter games, he suggested that viewers at home might appreciate a more streamlined, 40-minute game. He added that the change could help with player health by reducing overall minutes across the season, though he cautioned that the shift would need careful consideration over time, as “it’s such a dramatic change to the game.”In addition to the timing adjustments, Silver floated another idea involving free throws, specifically for fouls committed on 3-point attempts.
He suggested that teams could award two free throws instead of the usual three when a player is fouled while shooting from beyond the arc. “It’s something interesting,” Silver noted, but also emphasized it wouldn’t apply in the last two minutes of a game.Silver also addressed the growing volume of 3-point shooting in the league, with some wondering if it has become too prevalent. He responded cautiously, acknowledging that while there might be too many 3-pointers in some situations, he didn’t believe the game needed drastic changes. “The game is incredible right now. I think some of the criticism is a bit unfair,” he said, pointing to the league’s immense global popularity and strong ratings.While these ideas are still in the early stages and may not become reality anytime soon, Silver’s willingness to explore change shows his commitment to keeping the NBA adaptable to new trends and evolving player needs.
So, thoughts? Should the NBA tweak the game or nah?
