Adam Silver says he is a 'fan' of 10-minute quarters for NBA games

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he is a “fan of four 10-minute quarters” as the league continues to “get more involved in global basketball,” but he is “not sure that many others are.” Silver, appearing on "The Dan Patrick Show," mentioned that NBA is the “only league that plays 48 minutes.” Silver said aside from "records and things like that," a two-hour format for games "is more consistent" with "modern television habits." Host Dan Patrick had asked Silver about the "wildest thing that you guys have considered." He noted Olympic basketball and college basketball games are both two hours. Silver cited MLB's pitch clock, base size increases and more in meetings at the NBA to say "if baseball, which is more locked into tradition" is able to "make those changes, certainly we shouldn't be afraid to look at changes as well." Silver said one thing the league would "like to see over time" is "creating a more consistent set of rules globally around the game." He noted fans said the U.S.-Serbia and U.S.-France games during the 2024 Paris Olympics were "two of the best games they were saw." Silver: "I don't think most fans would be disappointed if it was a two-hour presentation" ("The Dan Patrick Show ", 1/29).

CHANGES COMING?  SI’s Liam McKeone wrote while the quarter-length rule alteration “doesn't sound close to becoming reality,” the mere existence of the discussion “indicates big change may be coming to the NBA -- and soon” ( SI, 1/29 ).  CBSSPORTS.com’s James Herbert wrote making every game eight minutes shorter would be the “equivalent of cutting 13.7 games from every team's schedule in terms of total minutes played.” He wrote he “doubt that would have the same positive effect on player health as actually removing 13 or 14 games and spacing the schedule out more” (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/29).

COACHES CORNER : In N.Y., Stefan Bondy notes Nuggets coach Michael Malone “slammed” Silver ’ s idea of 10-minute quarters. Malone: “I hope we don’t become Barnum & Bailey where we’re just having to do whatever we have to do to keep viewership.” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, “like Malone, is against Silver on this issue.” Thibodeau said, “I’m probably more traditional so I’d hate to see that” ( N.Y. POST, 1/30 ).