While injuries are virtually impossible to completely eliminate in the NBA, there have been some questions about the added strain to the current era of players. The game is faster and more athletic than it’s ever been as that will continue to be the case going forward.
So, as part of the discussion, there have been vocal calls about lessening the number of regular season games from 82 to a lower number. There have also been murmurs about the playoff schedule; some players pointed out the quick turnaround between some games can be an added burden to an already heavy workload.
Speaking at the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed some of those injuries and what the league is looking into. He was asked about star injuries like Jayson Tatum or Stephen Curry, along with what the league is looking into for player safety.
“Part of what we do is look at every form of data we can get our hands on,” Silver told reporters. “That includes minutes played, injuries. It includes whatever impact we see that back-to-backs are having on players, not just measured in injuries but by production on the floor. So we are going to continue to look at it.
“I don’t think there’s any magic bullets here. In fact, injuries are considerably down this playoffs from what it’s been historically. I think it’s our second lowest in 10 years. We have pretty healthy teams coming into the Finals now.”
Injuries are inevitable throughout sports. Even a guy like Tatum, who hadn’t missed a playoff game before this year, suffered a brutal Achilles injury in the second round. But there are ways for the league to make it easier on the players in the name of safety.
For example, the Thunder vs. Nuggets second-round series featured a quick turnaround between Games 3 and 4. Game 3 was played on a Friday night in Denver that went into overtime. Then Game 4 tipped off roughly 36 hours later Sunday afternoon as players on both sides pointed out how tough that is. So those are some areas the league has drawn some criticism, including from TNT analyst Charles Barkley during the series.
Regardless, player safety will always be at the forefront of any discussion — especially for the superstars. Considering it’s a star-driven league, keeping the players healthy is a huge priority for everyone involved.
“We look at it very closely,” Silver said. “This question comes up a lot. I don’t want to make a change just to make a change. People are asking should we shorten the season, spread the games out over a longer period of time. I don’t necessarily think we should reduce the number of games.
“If we had more days to work with, there is no question that if players are better rested, putting aside injuries, that that potentially leads to a little bit of heightened competition. I think a little bit what you see in the playoffs, too, because they’re better rested. We’re up against also players needing to take time off, needing to have an offseason. We will continue to look at it.”
