NBA commissioner Adam Silver isn’t shying away from the discourse surrounding his sport and fans’ complaints. In recent weeks, he has highlighted online engagement numbers and the excitement surrounding Team USA at the Paris Olympics as positive data points while acknowledging that it is his responsibility to translate the hype into direct consumption of the NBA. As part of that mission, Silver recognizes the need to be open to rule changes.
The latest idea surfaced Wednesday on The Dan Patrick Show, where Silver expressed support for shortening NBA quarters from 12 minutes to 10 minutes, thereby reducing total game time by 20 percent. He noted, “As we get more involved in global basketball, the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes. I am a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I’m not sure how many others are, and 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.”
To Silver’s point, FIBA and Olympic games are 40 minutes long, as are WNBA games, featuring 10-minute quarters. Most proposed NBA rule changes, however, tend to focus on play style. In recent years, there have been complaints about the lack of physicality and the increase in jump shooting. While shortening the game may not directly address these concerns, it could assist Silver in his efforts to attract more viewers to the sport on television. This approach reflects a positive mindset for the NBA; rather than becoming defensive over critiques or clinging to tradition, Adam Silver is proactively discussing the league’s state and envisioning ways it can become even greater.
