NBA commissioner Adam Silver is reportedly open to a major change to the length of NBA games, with the league potentially moving from 48-minute contests to a 40-minute format.
Silver is receptive to introducing four 10-minute quarters, bringing the NBA in line with FIBA and EuroLeague basketball, according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix.
“I actually think Adam Silver, from what I’ve heard, likes the idea of 40-minute games,” Mannix said.
“Adam’s a globalist when it comes to basketball.”
The discussion has resurfaced amid growing concerns over player injuries and star availability, with several high-profile names already missing time early in the 2026-27 season.
Silver has previously expressed support for the idea, revealing in January 2025 that he was a fan of four 10-minute quarters.
The commissioner argued that a shorter game would better suit modern television habits, with most international basketball competitions already using the 40-minute format.
However, Mannix questioned whether the change would be financially viable and suggested it could have unintended consequences for players further down the rotation.
“But I just don’t see financially how it’s feasible. And I also think, like I said, it’s not going to affect the minutes of stars,” he said.
He added, “You’re just going to see bench guys get more and more marginalized, to the point where teams will be like, ‘We don’t need a 15-man rotation. We just need 10 guys. We’ll keep a bunch of roster spots open,’ or whatever.”
Mannix also believes the league needs to be proactive in addressing the growing injury problem, rather than waiting for it to get worse.
“Again, reducing the number of games is not reasonable either. We’ll see, but I think something has to be done. This is bad.
Mannix highlighted, “It’s the most star-driven league of the four major sports, and not seeing stars is a big problem for the NBA.”