NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly renewed discussions about shortening games as injuries sidelined several star players early in the new season, raising concerns across the league.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said Silver is open to shortening games from 48 to 40 minutes, a move that would change the current four 12-minute quarters into four 10-minute quarters.
“Actually, I think Adam Silver, from what I’ve heard, likes the idea of 40-minute games. Adam’s a globalist when it comes to basketball,” he said, as quoted by BasketNews.
The move would bring the NBA in line with international basketball under the International Basketball Federation, which uses 10-minute quarters, while potentially catering to modern television viewing habits.
Silver previously floated the idea publicly in 2025, saying he was a “fan of four 10-minute quarters,” CBS Sports reported.
More NBA stars sidelined by injuries
The proposal resurfaced as the league seeks ways to address player injuries, with several superstars sidelined for extended periods early in the season.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, for instance, is expected to miss two months after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Other league stars, including Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, are also sidelined by significant injuries.
Several other players suffered injuries even before the season started, including Sacramento Kings forward Ben Simmons, who was reportedly diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Kimi Antonelli makes history as F1’s youngest world champion
Proposal likely to affect bench players
However, Mannix acknowledged that shortening games might not significantly reduce the workload of NBA stars and could instead disproportionately affect bench players.
Mannix believes such a move would “marginalise” reserve players, particularly those outside regular rotations, in the long run.
“You’re just going to see bench guys get more and more marginalised, to the point where teams like, ‘We don’t need a 15-man rotation. We just need 10 guys. We’ll just need 10 guys. We’ll keep a bunch of roster spots open.”
Aside from affecting bench players’ minutes, others have expressed concerns that shortening games could alter the league’s historical records, statistics and overall integrity.
10-minute quarters draw mixed reactions
The proposed 10-minute quarters have drawn divided reactions among basketball figures and fans, with some supporting the idea while others heavily criticise it.
Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban backed the idea of 40-minute games, arguing that it could help players avoid major injuries.
“Shorten the game to 40 minutes. The same as almost every other basketball league in the world. It would reduce injuries and ad inventory. But it would increase ratings to compensate,” he wrote on X.
However, several NBA coaches, including Denver Nuggets’ Michael Malone, previously opposed the idea in 2025, expressing resistance to drastic changes.
Similarly, fans voiced criticism and scepticism about whether the proposal would actually reduce the risk of major injuries, particularly among NBA superstars.
Calls to shorten NBA regular season
As the debate over 10-minute quarters flared up, other influential sports figures, including “Inside the NBA” host Ernie Johnson, called on Silver to reduce the traditional 82-game regular season.
“If I were gonna do one thing, maybe I would reduce the schedule by a few games, so it’s not 82,” he said when asked what changes would be made, as cited by Yahoo Sports.
Other fans also supported shortening the regular season, while some called for fewer back-to-back games and longer intervals between matchups to reduce player fatigue.
These calls reflect growing concerns over player workload and the need for the NBA to address injuries, particularly as franchises face financial repercussions from losing key players early in the season.
Although it remains to be seen whether the NBA will implement any significant changes, the proposals highlight the need to balance tradition and modernisation without compromising player welfare.
Elan Castanares 
Kamille Q. Cabreza 
Carmela Calling