Extreme basketball fans will not be a fan of this. Adam Silver has discussed the possibility of shortening the NBA season but this is just an idea he’s exploring. Let’s hear him out on it first.
When MLB commissioner Robert Manfred said that the league is willing to explore the possibility of shortening the season, I was truly upset as a major baseball fan. However, shortening the NBA season seems a bit off since its only 82-games. If you put that up against MLB, it makes sense to shorten baseball but not NBA.
But after reading Adam Silver’s explanation, it might make sense to you because he gets down to the health reasons behind it. Silver’s been good to us so let’s see his motives.
“We can play games in China and Europe, or occasional preseason games as a one-off, but under existing airline technology, the planes aren’t fast enough to at least play in the current frame work of our regular season,” Silver, who did not attend Thursday’s game but plans on attending the Warriors-Wolves preseason game in Shanghai on Sunday, said by phone. “(But) it may be something we’ll be looking at over the coming years, is what a regular season schedule look like a decade from now.”
The premise, of course, is that an 82-game schedule would likely be too taxing if there was intercontinental travel added to the schedule.
There’s nothing magical about 82 games,” Silver continued. “It’s been in place for 50 years, but for the long-term planning of the league, as we learn more about the human body and the wear and tear of travel and the competitive landscape … invariably we’ll look at the regular season. And in looking at the regular season, it may create more opportunities for international franchises.”
If anything, the playoffs should be shortened to prevent further injury. The season ends in April-there’s no reason why the NBA should still be going on in June. Creating more international franchises is something that should be explored more.