Adam Silver wants 10-minute qtrs to help match global basketball and broadcaster’s needs

Adam Silver and league executives working hard to come up with solutions to improve declining NBA viewership.

Adam Silver wants 10-minute qtrs to help match global basketball and broadcaster’s needs

Adam Silver suggests 10-minute qtrs to align NBA with global and college basketball

Over the past couple of seasons, the NBA has seen a steady decline in viewership. Many have brought this to the attention of commissioner Adam Silver with suggestions on changing some aspects of the game, to moving on from established veteran superstars.

At first Silver was defiant, suggesting the league is gaining in social media engagements. However, as time passed, it became all too apparent that the decline in viewership is not something he could push off. The league was even embarrassed by the likes of NFL’s Christmas Day games and college football.

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Now it seems the 62-year-old former lawyer is working with his executives to figure out ways to improve the game. Understanding that the game needs some tweaks, the commissioner was speaking with Dan Partick on his podcast, where he said.

Something else that I’m a fan of…. and I’m probably in the minority…. as we get more involved in global basketball… the NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes. I am a fan of four 10-minute quarters. As a television program, Olympic basketball is two hours, college basketball is of course 40 minutes.

Adam Silver said

Adam Silver acknowledged that fans have not asked for this. However, those watching at home and in arenas are better off setting aside two hours of their time to the game. Therefore, keeping in line with international as well as college basketball, he feels 10-minute quarters would be better.

Adam Silver wants to limit free throws in final minutes

Host Dan Patrick understood that Adam Silver will have to convince stakeholders to move to forty minutes of basketball. But then he also asked him if there is something else that has been discussed in league offices that could alter the game to improve NBA viewership numbers.

One that’s only being discussed…. is potentially two free throws for a foul and a three-point shot. I don’t necessarily think I would do it in the last two minutes of the game. But that’s something interesting.

Adam Silver said

This seems to be a discussion based on the increasing use of three-point shots in the league. Limiting free throws on threes could curb their use. The Boston Celtics are attempting an all-time high 48.7 shots from beyond the line. But more importantly, many more teams are following that trend.

Many former players have asked the league to curb the excessive use of that play as it has made games look like three-point contests. The league is also toying with the idea of introducing a four-point line. However, with the way athletes are improving their skill, that could be a go to shot down the line.