The NBA has been hit with a rash of injuries to star players to begin the 2026-27 season, generating conversation about what the NBA can do to try and mitigate the seemingly increasing number of injuries. One idea that has been floated around is potentially shortening games from 48 minutes to 40 minutes, an idea that reportedly has the support of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

“What I’ve heard, he likes the idea of 40-minute games,” Mannix said during a recent segment alongside NBA reporter Rachel Nichols. “I just don’t see financially how it’s feasible. Like I said, it’s not going to affect the minutes of stars. We’re just going to see bench guys get more and more marginalized to the point where teams are gonna be like, ‘we don’t need a 15 man rotation, we just need like 10 guys, we’ll keep a bunch of roster spots open.’”

Mannix went on to say that he does not believe reducing the number of games played is a realistic idea either, while acknowledging that something does have to be done to address the injury issue.

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With the regular season only in its third week, among the names that are currently sidelined due to injury, are Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Toronto Raptors guard Kawhi Leonard, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Oklahoma City Thunder players Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams and Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant.

Proposals such as shortening the regular season, reducing preseason and shortening games have all been ideas floated around, and Mannix believes the NBA should be proactive about it.