Potentially shortening NBA Season
The idea of shortening the NBA season comes from the lack of multiple teams’ star players being available during the playoffs. Players including Bucks forward Khris Middleton, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, and Suns guard Devin Booker are among the notable names that have been affected by injuries heading into the playoffs.
When asked about the idea of shortening the 82-game season as a possible solution to reducing the likeliness of superstars suffering season-ending injuries every year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, admitted that this idea is in the discussions.
“It’s something we’ve been talking a lot about the last few years, I’m not against potentially changing the format of the season” — or even possibly shortening a bit — “if we can demonstrate that’s going to have a direct impact on injuries,” said the NBA commissioner.
Richard Jefferson, a 17-year NBA vet who has become an ESPN analyst after retirement, recently spoke out about his thoughts about the potential idea of the NBA shortening its season.
On NBA Today, Jefferson said, “It’s absurd…They have done every single thing…You want to shorten the season? Like how much more do we have to make this coddling and all this stuff go with the players?”
Different solutions have come up whether it is a 78-game season or an in-season tournament near Christmas, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The NBA isn’t quick to decide because of the loss of revenue when reducing games and the risk of disrupting historical statistics in past years of the NBA.
CJ McCollum, who is the current President of the Players Association, shared his thoughts on First Take of possibly shortening the season.
“No players have said we don’t want to do it,” McCollum said. “This is just a discussion on ways we can improve our game. This is not to say it’s going to happen. Personally, I don’t think 58 games is enough, but I would have the discussion because that’s my job as the President of the Players Association.”
Fans have expressed their opinions on 82 games being a little much but sitting the stars has ultimately hurt the league. McCollum was clear that he wants to do what is best for the players and what is the most beneficial for the majority.