Kerr 'concerned' NBA's increased pace leading to injuries - ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he's «very concerned» that the NBA's increased pace of play combined with its condensed 82-game schedule is leading to an increase in soft tissue injuries.

In the last two days, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a groin strain wihle the San Antonio Spurs announced that center Victor Wembanyama has a left calf strain and guard Stephon Castle has a hip flexor strain.

Five other NBA players are also currently out with calf strains: Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday.

"[The Warriors' medical staff] believes that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage is factoring into these injuries," Kerr said.

According to ESPN Research, the league is playing at its fastest average collective pace since the 1988-89 season.

«Across the league, everyone understands that it's easier to score if you beat the opponent down the floor, get out in transition,» Kerr said. «But when everybody's doing that, the games are much higher-paced. Everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everybody can shoot 3s. We have all the data. Players are running faster and further [than] before. We're trying to do the best we can, but we basically have a game every other night. It's not an easy thing to do.»

Kerr has been a vocal proponent of shortening the NBA schedule from 82 games to 72 or fewer, believing that bit of extra rest and practice time over the course of several months would pay dividends.

«We literally haven't had a single practice on this road trip,» Kerr said. «Not one. We've been gone a week or longer. Eight days, not one practice. It's just game, game, game. So not only is there no recovery time, there's no practice time.