Report: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Likes Idea of Shorter, 40-Minute Games

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver likes the idea of shortening games from 48 minutes to 40, according to basketball reporter Chris Mannix, but no rule change or formal league proposal has been announced.

Mannix discussed the idea in a video appearance with Rachel Nichols that circulated November 3. He said, based on what he had heard, that Silver was receptive to games with four 10-minute quarters instead of the current four 12-minute quarters.

The discussion comes amid concerns about injuries and fans missing the chance to see leading players. Mannix argued that player availability is a serious issue for a league whose appeal depends heavily on its stars.

He also raised a major obstacle: money. Mannix said he did not see how shorter games would work financially, given the business arrangements built around the current format.

Mannix questioned whether cutting eight minutes would actually reduce the workload of top players. He suggested coaches could keep giving stars similar playing time while trimming opportunities for players farther down the bench.

The remarks describe a reported preference, not a decision by the NBA to shorten games. The league's games remain 48 minutes under the current format, and Mannix's comments do not establish a timetable for any change.