Kerr advocates for reduced schedule: 'We need to take 10 games off'

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr would prefer a shorter NBA schedule, even thought that isn't in the league's financial interest.

"I know this will not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it, because it's obvious we need to play fewer games. We need to take 10 games off the schedule," Kerr told reporters following Monday's loss to the Utah Jazz.

The NBA has used an 82-game schedule since the 1967-68 season. Only the lockout-abbreviated campaigns (1998-99, 2011-12) and COVID-impacted seasons (2019-20, 2020-21) have been shorter.

Kerr shared his concern about the Association's intense schedule in November. He said the Warriors' medical staff believed wear and tear as well as the increased pace and mileage of today's game were contributing to an uptick in soft tissue injuries.

Kerr suggested Monday that a reduced schedule would improve the on-court product.

"I think it would be great for the league. And I get it, it's revenue and you'd have to get everybody to agree to take a little less money. And that's a really hard thing to do," Kerr said.

"But what I know about the league, about coaching, about how hard it is to play the modern game with the pace and the space, I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games."