Former Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari has publicly advocated for the NBA to shorten games to 40 minutes as a way to reduce player injuries. The veteran's comments come amid a league-wide conversation about player health and workload. Gallinari's own career, including a season-ending ACL injury just before his Celtics debut in 2022, informs his perspective on the physical toll of the 48-minute game.
Gallinari has been a consistent supporter of adopting the FIBA game length. He argues that cutting eight minutes from regulation would significantly lessen the cumulative wear and tear on players' bodies over an 82-game season. "If you guys have been following me and my career, I've been proposing this for a while," Gallinari stated. His time in Boston was defined by injury, as he tore his ACL in a FIBA World Cup qualifier before ever playing a regular-season minute for the team. He believes a structural change is needed to protect players, especially with the league's schedule density and increased pace of play.
While Gallinari discusses league-wide reform, his former team is excelling on the court. The Boston Celtics are in impeccable form, riding a five-game winning streak. Their latest victory was a 98-93 road win over the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2026. This followed dominant performances against the Philadelphia 76ers (123-101 win on Nov. 10) and the Milwaukee Bucks (117-97 win on Nov. 8). The team's offense has been firing, scoring 119 points against the Charlotte Hornets just days prior.
The early part of the 2026-27 season has seen a notable number of players sidelined, reigniting debates about schedule load and recovery. Gallinari's proposal taps directly into this concern. Reducing game time could theoretically lower the risk of acute injuries and help manage chronic issues. For a team like the Celtics, managing the health of stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is most important for a long playoff run. The league is constantly evaluating data on player health, but a shift to 40 minutes would be a monumental change to the sport's tradition.
The Celtics' immediate focus is maintaining their hot streak. Their next challenge is a home game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 15, 2026. It's a prime matchup that will test their perimeter defense and offensive execution. The team's recent run, which includes a 109-102 win over Milwaukee earlier in the month, has them looking like a powerhouse. Keeping players fresh and available for games like this is the exact problem Gallinari's idea aims to solve.
Gallinari's stance is a player-driven solution to a complex issue. Whether the NBA ever considers such a dramatic reduction is uncertain. For now, the Celtics will concentrate on their 48-minute contests, hoping their health and form continue to propel them forward.
