The NBA faces significant challenges related to its lengthy season, which impacts player health and game quality. A new schedule could address these issues, but implementing such changes may be difficult.
The Denver Nuggets have dominated the Los Angeles Lakers since early 2023, winning all eight regular-season games and eight out of nine playoff games against them. However, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, formerly with the Nuggets, admitted on *The Draymond Green Show* that the Lakers should have beaten them in their recent first-round series. The series, which ended in five games, was closely contested, with the Lakers leading at halftime in all games and two decided by a single possession. Caldwell-Pope attributed the Nuggets’ struggles to fatigue from their push for the top seed, which left them drained by the time of their playoff clash with the Lakers. This exhaustion contributed to their eventual upset loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round, where they squandered a 20-point lead in Game 7.
Injuries and fatigue are recurring issues in the NBA playoffs, with many All-Stars missing games each year. In the 2024 postseason, ten out of fifteen series saw a prime All-Star miss at least one game, a trend observed in previous years as well. The modern NBA playoffs often resemble a test of endurance rather than skill, leading fans to question whether the best team always wins.
The root of this problem may lie in the NBA’s grueling schedule. NBA players are exceptionally athletic, which might make them more prone to injuries. While some reports suggest that intense AAU competition exacerbates this issue, injuries have always been a part of sports, not just basketball. Caldwell-Pope highlighted the dilemma teams face: choosing between rest and winning. Ideally, teams shouldn’t have to make this choice, and a potential solution could be incorporating more rest into the schedule by shortening the season.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously resisted this idea. In 2022, he pointed out that the COVID-shortened 72-game season did not significantly reduce injuries, as the games were played in a condensed timeframe. The 2020-21 season had 72 games crammed into 146 days, while the 2023-24 season had 82 games over 174 days, meaning the 2020-21 season actually featured more frequent games. Therefore, simply reducing the number of games without adjusting the schedule’s intensity might not solve the problem.
The financial aspect also complicates the issue. The NBA’s revenue depends heavily on the number of games played, as more games mean more revenue. Players and owners share basketball-related income almost evenly, so reducing the number of games would result in financial losses for both parties, at least in the short term.
However, the NBA’s new $76 billion television deal presents a unique opportunity. The deal, which significantly increases the league’s annual revenue, provides a chance to reconsider core aspects of the league’s structure. Shortening the season could be a way to invest in the future of the sport, ensuring a better product and potentially higher long-term profitability.
Despite this opportunity, the NBA may not act on it immediately. The league is in a strong financial position, and owners may be reluctant to sacrifice short-term revenue for potential long-term gains. Players, who have shorter careers, might not prioritize long-term benefits over immediate financial security. While the idea of a shorter schedule has merits, including reducing player fatigue and making games more significant, the league’s immediate financial interests likely outweigh these considerations for now.
Ultimately, while the NBA’s current financial health is robust, addressing the league’s structural issues could improve the product and fan experience. However, given the financial stakes, expecting the league to make significant changes soon may be unrealistic.
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