MEXICO CITY - With so many injuries early in the 2026-27 NBA regular season, there has been renewed chatter among fans and analysts of the league about creative solutions to mitigate the impact of the wear and tear leading to so many players being out so early. And given his tenure with the Boston Celtics was effectively dissolved by such an injury (and marked by another serious injury earlier in his career), Danilo Gallinarihas long been a supporter of cutting the playing time to 40 minutes as the game is played under FIBA rules around the globe.
"If you guys have been following me and my career, I've been proposing this for at least 10 years, I think," said Gallinari to the Celtics Wire at the 2026 NBA Mexico City Game. "But of course, it would
be a huge change. We were always talking to lower the number of games; I was proposing back in the day from 82 to 70. Of course it's tough to do; as players we were proposing that to the player association."
"But of course the NBA and the business is like 'Okay, less games less money,' so the players were like 'Maybe not,' added the Celtics short-timer. But to go from 48 (minutes of game time) to 40 I think it would be huge for the NBA, it would be great of course."
"The stats situation I think is something that will change, but the NBA is the best in the world in changing, proposing things, changing things," he added. "Players that played before never had the chance to win the (NBA) Cup. The Cup now is something new."
"What about the players that didn't play the Cup? What about the players that didn't play when there was a 3-point line? They were saying, 'Oh, well, if I play with a 3-point line, what could I have done?' – all these things. So yes, why not going from 48 to 40? I think it's beneficial for everybody, for the players."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Boston Celtics alum Danilo Gallinari believes a 40-minute NBA game can reduce injury
