Adam Silver reportedly open to shortening NBA games to 40 minutes

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is reportedly open to shortening basketball games from 48 minutes to 40 minutes, a move that would align the league with international FIBA and EuroLeague formats, basketnews.com reported.

Evaluating the 40-Minute Proposal in the 2026-27 Season

Heading into the third week of the 2026-27 season, mounting injuries to star players have put player workload back under the microscope. Multiple high-profile names are currently sidelined, including Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Haliburton, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Ja Morant. These early-season absences have revived internal league debates over how to keep marquee talent on the floor.

Silver previously expressed support for the shorter format. In January 2025, the commissioner stated he was a fan of four 10-minute quarters, arguing that the NBA stands out globally for maintaining 48-minute contests. He suggested that a roughly two-hour television broadcast would align better with modern viewing habits.

Shorter Games Threaten Bench Player Roles

Speaking on a segment with Rachel Nichols, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix detailed that Silver remains interested in the structural shift, describing the commissioner as a globalist regarding basketball. However, Mannix expressed strong skepticism about the economic viability of the change.

According to Mannix, cutting eight minutes from regulation time would not actually reduce the minutes played by star athletes. Instead, the burden would fall on the supporting cast. Margin players and bench rotations would face severe compression, potentially leading front offices to abandon 15-player rosters in favor of carrying about 10 players.

Mannix also dismissed reducing the total number of regular-season games as an unreasonable solution, while simultaneously emphasizing that the league cannot afford inaction as fan frustration over resting or injured stars builds. Other alternatives, such as a lighter preseason schedule, have also been floated.

The Ongoing Debate Over Schedule Demands

The league has issued no official announcement regarding a shift to four 10-minute quarters, and financial feasibility remains the primary sticking point for any transition away from the traditional 48-minute model.

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