Is 82 Games Too Many?
Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The question of whether 82 games is too many for an NBA season is a topic of growing debate, especially with the dramatic increase in career-altering injuries, particularly ACL and Achilles injuries. In the 2025 regular season, only eleven players played all 82 games. That number has seen a steady decrease with every following season. There is no direct correlation between the length of the season and the spike in injuries, but it definitely plays a role. While the length of the season has remained unchanged for decades, the rise in injuries has led to increased scrutiny about the impact of such a grueling schedule on players' bodies.
Why Are Today’s Players Suffering More Severe Injuries Than Players of the Past?
There is no single answer to why today's players appear to be suffering more severe injuries than those who preceded them. A combination of factors, including the evolution of the game and changes in player expectations, has contributed to this trend.
It doesn’t appear that physicality is the primary factor influencing the frequency of injuries in the league today. Instead, the way the game is played has had a bigger impact. The pace of the game has increased significantly. In contrast to the past, when teams would often use their entire shot clock or walk the ball up the court to initiate their offense, modern teams now prioritize shooting early in the shot clock and pushing the ball to apply constant pressure on the defense. This up-tempo style of play has become the recipe for success in today’s NBA.
The logic behind this approach is simple: the earlier a team shoots, the more possessions they’ll accumulate. From an analytical standpoint, more possessions lead to more shot attempts, which in turn increases the likelihood of scoring more points and ultimately winning. However, this fast pace comes at a cost, as the increased number of possessions and high-intensity play can put more strain on players' bodies, leading to a higher risk of injury.
As if this more entertaining style of play isn’t already taxing enough, the NBA has recently added the In-Season Tournament, giving players even more incentive to push their bodies to the limit. While the tournament takes place in the early part of the season, by the time players are reaching game 60 or 70, the wear and tear begins to take its toll. On top of that, the 65-game minimum requirement for awards adds further pressure to maintain peak performance throughout the entire season. These added demands intensify the physical strain on players, increasing the likelihood of injuries as they are forced to give their best in more competitive, high-stakes scenarios.
Of course, the expectation is for players to play all 82 games. If it weren’t feasible, the schedule likely would’ve been altered decades ago. However, the reality is that player skill levels have evolved significantly. What once relied on pure athleticism now includes creativity like step-backs and Eurosteps, which, while exciting and effective, place unnatural stress on players’ bodies. The craftiness of the game contributes to the cumulative impact on the durability of players today.
So, Is 82 Games Too Many?
At this rate, 82 games might be too many. It would be great if there was a way to extend the schedule to eliminate back-to-backs or reduce travel. However, no player would want a shorter offseason. So, if the league continues in this pace and space direction, then it might be beneficial to reduce the number of regular season games.
