NBA Insider Eric Pincus: Is It Time To Consider 40-Minute Games?

It can’t be recency bias; early-season NBA injuries are out of control. OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – OCTOBER 22: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) From the Oklahoma City Thunder losing Jalen Williams to a brutal lower-leg injury to Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, expected out for months after knee surgery, the number of players going down in the first week of the season is a major downer. “The start to this season has been brutal,” said a team executive. “I don’t recall ever a first week of injuries like this one.” A scout offered more shrug than answer: “What’s going on? I don’t know what to even blame it on.” A common theme when players go down is that the 82-game season is too long, but that doesn’t hold much weight a few games in. In January 2025, league commissioner Adam Silver told The Dan Patrick Show (H/T Bleacher Report) that he’s “a fan of four 10-minute quarters.” Silver noted that the NBA “is the only league that plays 48 minutes,” unlike the WNBA, NCAA, and FIBA; cutting eight minutes a game would reduce each team’s season total by 656 minutes. At the time, Silver thought he was “in the minority,” but now he may find broader support as teams are perplexed by the rash of injuries. “You’re not going to find any teams against that,” a second scout said. The longer a player is on the court, the greater the wear and tear and the general injury risk from an unpredictable event like Williams’ devastating fall. Pace is another factor. “I see the style of play now, the way it’s going, more coaches are playing more players, like 10, 11 guys because the speed of the game is so fast and guys are getting tired faster,” said LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue last week. That raises the question of how the National Basketball Players Association feels about the issue. Better working conditions and steps to provide better health care to its members are union staples. Will A Shorter Game Have The Intended Effect? If reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays 33 minutes in a 48-minute game, will the Thunder give him the same 33 in a 40-minute battle when possessions become more valuable? Does a shorter game only reduce the opportunity for the league’s non-stars and role players? One agent didn’t care either way: “I don’t give a [expletive].” Economic issues stand in the way of reducing the number of games or extending the season for a spread-out 82-game schedule that gives players more recovery time. Additionally, multiple NBA sources have previously indicated that broadcast partners generally prefer shorter games to hold viewers’ attention. Fewer ad breaks could raise commercial prices. The League Needs To Look Closely At An Unhealthy Attrition The list of injured players has grown daily this season, including Jaren Jackson Jr. (Utah Jazz), Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Justin Champagnie (Washington Wizards), and Cason Wallace (Thunder). Add on to that several players injured over the summer or preseason, like Ben Simmons (Sacramento Kings), Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers), Max Strus (LA Clippers), Mark Williams (Phoenix Suns), and Ariel Hukporti (Philadelphia 76ers). Others are dealing with relatively minor injuries like Lauri Markkanen (wrist) and Cooper Flagg (shoulder). Hamstring strains (Jalen Duren, Kon Knueppel, Nicolas Claxton and Ja Morant) and knee injuries (Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Edwards, Leonard) are rampant. If it’s an anomaly, it’s a troubling one with no clear explanation. This year already feels markedly worse than last season. A significant change wouldn’t come until the 2027-28 season, but the team executive is skeptical that the league will even acknowledge the issue. “The NBA will come out with some stat claiming that injuries are not increasing, like with all those Achilles and ACL injuries the past couple of seasons,” they said. If Silver and the league are serious about shifting to 40-minute games, which would conveniently match their expansion vision with NBA Europe, then the recent stretch may be the ideal catalyst for change. The post NBA Insider Eric Pincus: Is It Time To Consider 40-Minute Games? appeared first on Casino.org.