NBA commissioner Adam Silver likes the idea of reducing games from 48 to 40 minutes, according to Chris Mannix.
Mannix said the financial implications and potential impact on roster rotations remain significant obstacles.
“From what I’ve heard, Adam likes the idea of 40-minute games,” Mannix said, describing Silver as a globalist when it comes to basketball. The NBA currently plays four 12-minute quarters, while FIBA competitions use four 10-minute quarters.
The 40-minute format is already standard across much of international basketball. The EuroLeague, EuroCup, FIBA Basketball World Cup and Olympic basketball tournaments all follow FIBA rules, as do national leagues operating under those regulations.
Mannix questioned whether the NBA could absorb the financial consequences of shortening its games.
He also argued that the change would not necessarily reduce the workload of star players, as coaches would be more likely to concentrate minutes among their top options.
Instead, Mannix expects shorter games to further limit opportunities for players outside the main rotation. He said teams could decide they no longer need 15-man rosters and instead operate with roughly 10 players, leaving roster spots unused.
The discussion also covered reducing the number of regular-season games, an option Mannix likewise considered financially impractical.
He said the league needs to address player availability before the problem becomes worse, pointing to the importance of star players to ticket sales.
“Not seeing stars is a big problem for the NBA,” Mannix said.
