How can the NBA improve? It is a question several reporters and analysts have brought up over the last few years. The phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” could certainly be applied to many sports leagues. However, the same leagues also have to cater to the times and appeal to the viewers’ varying/changing interests. With NBA ratings having reportedly taken a hit, now is a good time as any to explore something new. Fortunately, Adam Silver seems to have some ideas on the docket. Two of which may very well have been influenced by Stephen Curry.

The NBA commissioner recently appeared in an interview with Dan Patrick on the latter’s show. During the same, Silver addressed some of the criticism recently handed out to the NBA. Including the emphasis on shooting too many 3s. Silver did not go into too much detail about that, but still mentioned that “Fair to be critical of it at times too and you know should there be less three-point shooting, etc. I mean that’s something we’re very focused on.” Furthermore, having experimented with the Play-In and the All-Star game, the commissioner looked towards the other sports leagues and noticed that NBA games are too long. Having seen his players compete in games with 10-minute quarters during the recent Paris Olympics, Silver certainly took some inspiration.

“The Olympic basketball, I’m sure you watched you know on NBC and Peacock, the US-Serbia, US-France. Those are…. people are…. basketball fans, some are saying those are two of the best games they ever saw,” Silver said. “Incidentally, if you went to a 40-minute game with the issues around load management and resting, it would be the equivalent of, I don’t know the exact math, taking like 15 games off the season”. As Dan Patrick replied “I like that,” Silver added, “So, and I don’t think most fans would be disappointed if it was a 2-hour presentation instead of a you know our game is actually about 2 hours and 15 minutes.”

Stephen Curry would be called out first regarding the NBA’s alleged emphasis on 3-point shooting. After all, he holds the record for the most 3-pointers ever made in the league. He even occupies the top spot for the most 3-pointers made per game this season. Despite this, Adam Silver has formulated his proposed 10-minute quarter games from the two matchups the Warriors star was a big part of.

Team USA had come close to blowing their gold medal chance during the Serbia Semi-Final game. During the final minutes, Serbia was leading by 76-63! That is when Stephen Curry stepped up. LeBron James dropped a triple-double, and Curry recorded most of his 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists during that final stretch. He went 12-19 from the field and, impressively, 9-14 from beyond the arc. This helped Team USA end the game on a 95-91 lead. As for the Finals against France, the 36-year-old scored 24 points, 1 rebound, and 5 assists. He made 8-13 field goals and 8-12 3-pointers.

From pulling out his iconic ‘Night-Night’ move to finding the gap, Curry’s performance caused him to be dubbed “Devil Curry” by French broadcasters. McDonalds France even put out an advertisement in which they considered removing the ‘Curry Sauce’ from their menu.

The performances were more about Curry’s prowess than his taking advantage of a format. Moreover, Adam Silver would have noticed that the Team USA members didn’t have to contend with excessive fatigue and load management. That may have allowed many to give their best. Therefore, why shouldn’t that experiment be implemented on a domestic scale by bringing the 10-minute games to the NBA?

Who knows, the reduction in time may even increase people’s ability to watch full games, thereby retaining and increasing game viewership. Adjusting to the new format will be a struggle for the players. Especially Stephen Curry. After all, he faced enough trouble adjusting to the Olympic rules.

Stephen Curry admitted to struggling with basketball’s rules and regulations in his first Olympic run

The 2024 Paris Olympics happened to be the first time Stephen Curry had played on the international level. Having spent 15 years becoming one of NBA’s most recognizable players, he set out to make a mark on the international stage. Unfortunately, the tough roster of Serbia, France, and Canada didn’t plan to make things easy for the Warriors star. Curry also had to deal with playing under different sets of rules than he was used to.

In an NBC Sports interview, Stephen Curry was asked if he felt the need to adjust to the changes. He replied, “For sure. You talked about muscle memory and I know where I am in relation to the line on NBA courts and have a certain relation to that, a certain familiarity. It’s a little bit different. Or has been, I should say. When you’re toeing the line you might shoot a couple long, just because you’re not used to it.”

The FIBA courts were 91’ 10” x 49’2.5 in size, while the three-point line carried a shorter arc length (6.75 meters with 6.60 meters on the baseline) than the NBA court. Curry’s struggle with adjusting to the new format was evident when he, during the pre-Olympic exhibition series, could only make 14 out of 37 shots from long range. During the first 4 Olympic games, he recorded a three-point percentage of 42.9%, 0.0%, 33.3%, and 0.0%.

Though Curry eventually adjusted, he still went on a learning curve. Adam Silver’s format changes may bring that curve back.