On Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about his wildest consideration for the NBA during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show."
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"I am a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I'm not sure that many others are," Silver admitted. "It's such a dramatic change to the game. I think something like that would have to be talked more about over time."
Silver cited the NBA's expansion into the global market as a major influence on the idea. He referenced that Olympic basketball games and college basketball games are generally about two hours long. The same is true of WNBA games.
Fans on social media responded to the commissioner's latest suggestion with mixed reviews. Several users agonized over the idea and added it to their list of ways Silver continues to "ruin the league."
Just keep destroying the game that we love ❤️
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) January 30, 2025
what happened to the game i love..this guy dont have a clue 😂😂
— HumbleForever (@DaRealSkeet) January 29, 2025
For all the naysayers, a great deal of fans felt the idea would be helpful to the NBA's current problems with ratings.
Silver Continues to Fight Against Narrative About NBA Viewership Problems
According to Nielsen, NBA viewership has slightly declined this season, with ratings up on ESPN and ABC but down on TNT compared to last year.
Many critics have pointed at the quality of the game as a reason, from the onslaught of 3-point attempts to the lack of physicality and lopsided scores.
Silver described the ongoing narrative as "frustrating" and clarified that overall the NBA's "ratings are now about even with last year."
"I think the game is incredible right now, day in and day out. I think some of the criticism is a bit unfair. And that goes back to my earlier point: that the league needs to do a better job teaching about the game so that there's real appreciation for what people are seeing out there."
