Adam Silver supports shortening NBA games to 40 minutes, but faces opposition

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with "The Dan Patrick Show" on Wednesday that he is in favor of shortening NBA games from 48 minutes to 40 minutes, that is, reducing the time of a single quarter from 12 minutes to 10 minutes.

Silver said: "As the NBA has developed in the global basketball landscape, we are the only league that adopts a 48-minute game length. I personally do support the four 10-minute quarters. Of course, I'm not sure how many people agree. Putting aside the impact on historical records, I think a game controlled within two hours is more in line with the viewing habits of modern audiences."

Currently, the average length of NBA games this season is 2 hours and 16 minutes, which is almost the same as the past 15 seasons (according to ESPN research data, the average length of the past 15 seasons is 2 hours and 15 minutes).

Silver further explained: "We see that a TV show is usually two hours long, an Olympic basketball game is also two hours long, and an NCAA college basketball game is only 40 minutes long."

In the 78-year history of the NBA, the game length has always been maintained at 48 minutes. If it is shortened to 40 minutes, it will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the game. Many single-game and single-season records may become difficult to break, and some top stars may even be able to play the full game in more games.

In addition, the reduction in playing time may affect the salaries of role players and substitutes. If the playing time is shortened, the team's demand for rotation players may decrease, thus affecting their importance in the lineup.

Although Silver believes that shortening the game time will help improve the viewing experience of the audience, many coaches are opposed to it. Among them, New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau and Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone have clearly expressed their dissatisfaction.

"I'm a traditionalist and I don't want to see this change," Thibodeau said, adding that he believes shortening game time will affect players' chances of breaking league records.

Malone said: "I recognize that the league has been looking for ways to attract fans, but I sincerely hope that we will not change to a 10-minute quarter or add a four-point line. I hope the NBA will not become a 'circus' that will do everything to attract audiences. Because this sport has its greatness, history and purity, I hope we can stick to it."