NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that the league has no current plans to shorten its 82-game regular season. Speaking during his annual press conference ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, Silver addressed ongoing debates about player health, injuries, and schedule length.
Silver: No Evidence That Fewer Games Reduce Injuries
When asked if cutting the number of games could help prevent injuries like those suffered by stars Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum this postseason, Silver pointed to data showing no strong link between the number of games and injury rates. In fact, he noted that injuries are down this year, making this postseason one of the healthiest in the last decade.
“If anything, there’s more rest in the playoffs now than in the past,” Silver said. “We used to have playoff back-to-backs. We track every piece of data — minutes played, injuries, back-to-backs, and production on the court — and there’s no magic solution. We’ll keep studying it, but the data doesn’t support cutting games.”
Financial Incentives Remain a Factor
Silver also acknowledged the business realities tied to the current schedule. With the NBA recently signing a record-breaking $76 billion media rights deal that begins next season, there are strong financial reasons to maintain the current number of games.
“Money is part of it. We’re a business. But I don’t see a benefit to reducing games based on injury data,” Silver explained.
Player Concerns About Fatigue-Based Injuries
Despite the league’s position, some players have expressed frustration with the grueling schedule. Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon recently voiced concerns about “fatigue-based injuries” he believes are tied to the long regular season and travel demands.
Quality vs. Quantity Debate Continues
The debate over whether the NBA should prioritize game quantity or player performance quality remains ongoing. While league data may suggest injuries are not rising, many fans and analysts continue to question whether the NBA product would benefit from fewer games and fresher players.
For now, however, Silver’s message is clear: the 82-game schedule is here to stay.
