{
  "id": 17829097,
  "title": "Ernie Johnson Wants NBA to Cut Regular Season Below 82 Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/ernie-johnson-wants-nba-to-cut-regular-season-below-82-games",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T16:53:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Front Office Sports",
    "slug": "front-office-sports",
    "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/ernie-johnson-nba-shorten-regular-season-82-games/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ernie Johnson, nearing the end of his 37-year tenure as a commentator on Inside the NBA, has suggested that the NBA league could benefit from having fewer regular season games. Johnson made this statement during an interview with Front Office Sports' Baker Machado, discussing various aspects of the show's future. The NBA season currently consists of 82 games, but Johnson believes that reducing the schedule could be beneficial. He expressed concern about the high number of star players currently out due to injuries, including Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard. Johnson also mentioned the wear and tear on players, advocating for a reduction in the number of games to lessen the strain on athletes. Despite acknowledging the possibility that Inside the NBA could continue in a different form without him and Charles Barkley, Johnson expressed his hope for the show's evolution over the years. He also praised ESPN and ABC for facilitating a smooth transition when the show moved from TNT last year, ensuring that the program could continue uninterrupted.",
  "summary": "The TNT Sports host specifically pointed to the Thunder’s recent injuries.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}