Is a Shorter NBA Season with a Mid-Season Tournament Feasible?

The ongoing debate in the NBA circles revolves around the NBA season length. Many, including knowledgeable fans, are questioning whether the league should shorten the current 82-game season into a 58-game or 66-game format. A 58-game schedule would involve playing other teams twice, while playing divisional teams four times. Additionally, a mid-season tournament similar to the NCAA's March Madness, known as the Fab Feb NBA Tournament, is proposed.

Proposal Overview

I believe the NBA should opt for a 58-game season plus a mid-season or early-February tournament. This format would significantly alter the balance of the season's structure, making it more exciting and profitable without compromising on fan engagement.

Fan Engagement and Revenue

One of the main concerns regarding a shorter season is the potential loss of revenue for NBA teams. However, this assertion is not necessarily upheld by economic calculations. In fact, the idea of scarcity can enhance the value of something, which in this case, would be the regular season games.

Scarcity Increasing Value

According to economic principles, scarcity increases the value of something. This can be observed through two key points:

Arenas could charge fans more: With fewer games, arenas can raise ticket prices and concession fees, leading to higher revenues. More fans would watch televised/streamed games: Due to a reduced number of games, fans would have less of an influx of games to choose from, potentially leading to higher viewership and engagement with the remaining games.

Player Rest and Financial Burden

Another critical concern is player rest and the financial burden on fans who are forced to pay high prices for tickets only to discover that star players are resting. A 58-game schedule, however, could address these issues by creating a season of approximately 3 games per week or 11-14 games per month with no back-to-back games.

This format would allow teams to rest players for health reasons more frequently during the regular season. The league could impose fines on teams for resting players, which would provide a sufficient justification. This approach would enhance the sustainability of the teams and improve player health.

Playoff Structure and Fan Interest

With a 58-game season, an eight-team or "16 best teams" playoff format could be more realistic and fair. Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans in the West, and Milwaukee Bucks in the East would not be left out due to a less competitive regular season. Every team would play each other twice, ensuring that every game is more meaningful and profitable.

This format aligns with the current trends in NFL and MLB, striking a balance between game frequency and viewer/fan interest. NBA could experiment with this and evaluate fan responses to better understand the impact on revenue and overall fan engagement.

Conclusion

The proposed 58-game season with a mid-season tournament offers a compelling solution to the issues of extended game lengths and player overuse. It balances fan engagement, team profitability, and player health. The economic feasibility of this model needs to be further analyzed by real economists, but the initial hypothesis suggests that it may be a more profitable and sustainable option for the NBA.