When Steve Kerr talks about the NBA, he rarely does so with half measures. It has never been his style. The Golden State Warriors head coach has once again criticized one of the league’s pillars: the 82-game schedule.

When asked what change he would introduce if he were in commissioner Adam Silver’s position, Kerr had no doubts:

I know this won’t be a popular opinion in the league offices, but I’ll keep saying it because it’s obvious. We should play fewer games. We should take 10 games off the schedule. I think it would be great for the league

Steve Kerr

The Warriors coach admitted that such a decision would be difficult to implement. Reducing the number of games would also mean reducing part of the league’s revenue, an economic sacrifice that neither the franchises nor the NBA appear willing to make.

Despite that, Kerr remains convinced that modern basketball requires a change.

From what I know about the league and how difficult it is to play modern basketball with today’s pace and spacing, I think we’d have a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games

Steve Kerr

In reality, this stance is not new. Back in 2022, Kerr had already proposed a 72-game schedule, arguing that fewer games would reduce the load management issue and allow NBA stars to take the court more often. More recently, he had also criticized NBA officiating, particularly calls during a game against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder.

According to the coach, the increasingly fast NBA pace and constant transition play also increase the risk of muscle injuries, especially in an era of faster offenses and a heavy volume of three-point shooting.

Kerr, however, acknowledged that the league is unlikely to accept such a change.

Good luck finding an industry that voluntarily gives up money to improve the product

Steve Kerr

Right now, the NBA schedule seems destined to remain the same. But if it were up to Kerr, the season would already be shorter.