Will the NBA change? James joins forces with Nash to propose: The regular time is shortened to 40 minutes

LeBron James and Steve Nash jointly dropped a bombshell in the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast: The NBA should consider reducing the total game duration from the traditional 48 minutes to 40 minutes! This bold proposal quickly detonated the basketball circle.

"Imagine a 40-minute game," James gestured and emphasized on the show, "The pace is amazingly fast! This is the international arena, there is no room for slow heat, and the whole process is urgent. This is indeed worth our serious discussion." Nash, who was sitting next to him, nodded frequently, expressing his clear agreement with this view.

James also admitted that the challenge lies: "Changing historical traditions is not easy, but for the sake of the game more exciting, it is definitely a dialogue worth starting."

Coincidentally, NBA President Adam Xiao Hua said in an interview before: "My personal support is changed to 10 minutes per quarter! Although I am not sure how many people agree, the reality is that the NBA is the only top league in the world that adheres to the 48-minute game system." Xiao Hua pointed out the commercial pain points even sharply: "A broadcast often costs more than two and a half hours, and it is compressed to less than two hours, which is more in line with the rating habits of contemporary audiences."

[Short the duration, behind it is the global evolution of basketball rhythm]

Looking at the world basketball world, the NBA's 48 minutes can be called a "lone walker". FIBA competitions, Olympic stadiums, and even major European professional leagues generally adopt a 40-minute competition system. The men's game in the United States University Basketball (NCAA) was also divided into the first and second half, each playing 20 minutes. The long-term tradition of the NBA is particularly prominent in the wave of efficiency-first era.

[Intensity improvement vs. business considerations, the real game of the NBA]

The core logic behind shortening time lies in the quality of the game: a shorter duration forces the team to fully open fire from the beginning, reducing "strategic reservations". The intensity and concentration of offense and defense in each round will inevitably soar, and the audience will see a high-energy basketball feast throughout the whole process.

However, huge resistance comes from business reality. Advertising, TV broadcasting agreements, and stadium operation revenue are all deeply bound to the existing game duration. The compression of 8 minutes is a chain of interests worth billions of dollars. Although Xiao Hua expressed his support, whether the alliance can truly promote change still needs to face fierce competition from all parties.

When basketball encounters a fast-paced era, is the NBA's "48-minute iron rule" a time when it has to turn around? James and Nash's proposal and Xiao Hua's potential support have quietly planted the seed of change. Can the shortened 8 minutes bring you a more intense confrontation and a more compact viewing experience? What the NBA is facing is a deep thinking about the nature of basketball and business logic.