Every offseason is a busy one for the NBA commissioner as they are continuously looking for ways to better the game for their players, viewers, and coaches. This summer has been no different, as Adam Silver has had an ample amount of issues that needed to be addressed.
Silver has looked into the science behind medical marijuana, possible expansion to Seattle, and a draft lottery reform all during this most recent ongoing offseason. With the NBA continuing to gain more and more global popularity, Silver has also considered implementing more international games but the rigors of back and forth flights would take too much of a toll on players already enduring a tight 82-game schedule.
However, Silver says he’s not against the idea of changing the NBA’s season length according to USAToday’s Sam Amick: “Something we’ll be looking at over the coming years, is what a regular season schedule look like a decade from now.”
Silver continued, “There’s nothing magical about 82 games, 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.”
Though the 82-game schedule has been an NBA fixture for decades now as Silver pointed out, the league could trend into a different direction if international play is deemed important enough. Even without international franchises being a factor, 82 games has always made for a rigorous regular season and that wear and tear shows in the playoffs on occasion. Expect the proactive Adam Silver to make minor alterations to the schedule as he sees fit over the coming years.
