Kerr Renews Push for Fewer Games as Injury Concerns Mount; League Notes on Breakout Players, 2026 Cap Room
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November 20, 2025 — Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr again advocated for a shorter regular-season schedule, warning that a faster style of play and an almost nonstop slate of games are fueling a rise in soft-tissue injuries across the NBA.
Kerr: Pace up, recovery down
Speaking after Tuesday’s matchup with the Orlando Magic, Kerr said the league’s pace of play is “dramatic” compared with previous years and forces players to “run faster and further than ever before.” While league officials have trimmed back-to-backs and four-games-in-five-nights sets, the coach noted that teams now seldom see more than a single off-day between contests, leaving little time for rest or practice.
“We literally have not had a single practice on this road trip,” Kerr explained after the fifth game of a six-game swing. “It’s just game, game, game.” He added that medical staffs attribute mounting injuries to increased speed, mileage and reduced recovery opportunities.
Players echo scheduling concerns
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart agreed that the calendar is overloaded but questioned whether owners, the league and players would accept the revenue hit that would come with fewer games. “Do I think there’s too many games? Yeah,” Hart said Thursday. “Conversely, will [team owners] and the league and players take a pay cut to not do that? I don’t know.”
Early standouts of 2025-26
Separate features in The Athletic spotlighted several surging talents. Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pistons center Jalen Duren appeared on both Fred Katz’s “most improved” list and John Hollinger’s “breakout players” column. Hollinger suggested Duren is tracking toward maximum or near-maximum money when he reaches restricted free agency next summer.
2026 cap outlook
Keith Smith of Spotrac projected that six franchises could open the 2026 offseason with cap space, led by the Washington Wizards at more than $80 million. Earlier estimates also placed the Jazz, Nets and Bulls in strong position to dip under the cap, while the Lakers and Clippers may join that group depending on player options and free-agent decisions.
Trade-deadline check-in
An ESPN panel assessed in-season needs for eight hopeful contenders, including the Pistons, Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves and Knicks. Insider Bobby Marks said Detroit is better equipped than any other Eastern Conference playoff team to make a deal thanks to available cap flexibility, movable contracts and extra draft picks.
Source: Hoops Rumors
