Adam Silver floats idea of 10-minute quarters

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has presented the idea of changing games from 12- to 10-minute quarters.

"As we get more involved in global basketball, the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes," Silver said Wednesday on the "Dan Patrick Show." "I am a fan of four 10-minute quarters, I'm not sure that many others are ... I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent with modern television habits."

Silver would like to see a consistent set of rules for basketball across all leagues. He noted that Olympic basketball and college basketball already play 40-minute games.

Silver said he believes shortening quarters could solve some of the NBA's issues with rest and load management.

"It would be the equivalent of ... taking like 15 games off the season, and I don't think most fans would be disappointed if it was a 2-hour presentation," he said.

Silver is keenly aware that MLB has implemented changes that made a positive impact, such as adding a pitch clock in 2023. He said that if a league that is "more locked into tradition" like MLB can do that, the NBA should be more open to changes.

The commissioner also addressed the recent narrative that NBA games have too many 3-point shot attempts. Silver said he likes the 3-point shot and appreciates the skill level of big men who are able to shoot from deep because it shows how the game has evolved over time.

"Is there too much 3-point shooting in certain situations? Maybe," Silver said. "But, I also don't want to overreact to what we're seeing in the game because the game goes through transitions. I think the game is incredible right now, day in, day out.

"I think some of the criticism is a bit unfair. ... Ratings are fine, we have enormous global interest, people like what they're seeing right now on the floor. So, I don't necessarily buy into the premise that it'd be a better game if you eliminated 3-point shooting."