Staff Responses Range From Practical Adjustments to Societal Overhauls
In September, The Ringer published a piece titled "22 Increasingly Unhinged Ways to Fix the NBA," in which 22 staff members responded to a single prompt regarding potential changes to the National Basketball Association. The article, published on Sept. 2 at 12:34 pm UTC and spanning 27 minutes of reading time, was initiated by the observation that the NBA offseason was beginning as football season commenced.
The publication noted that while the NFL had begun its schedule, it could not replace the cultural space previously occupied by the Knicks-Spurs rivalry, which ended in June. The article described the resulting period as "offseason doldrums" during which the staff decided to "get a little weird and stretch our legs." The piece invited readers to consider what single change each staffer would implement if given the power to alter the league.
The responses compiled by the staff varied significantly in scope. According to the article, some proposals were described as practical, while others were characterized as ideas that would "fundamentally reshape the league" or even "fundamentally reshape society." The publication stated that the suggestions escalated quickly in their intensity and scope.
League History of Structural Changes Provides Context
The article contextualized the staff's proposals by noting the NBA's recent history of modifying its operational framework. The Ringer stated that the league has not been "afraid to tinker" in recent years, implementing changes across multiple areas of governance and competition.
Specific areas cited as having undergone change include the league schedule, the postseason format, the salary cap structure, and the All-Star Game. The publication noted that these adjustments have had mixed results, with some changes described as being "for the better" and others as "decidedly not." The article positioned the staff's 22 suggestions as an attempt to offer "a little help" to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding future potential reforms.
Part One of Proposed Reforms
The article organized the 22 proposals into sections based on their perceived feasibility. The first section, titled "Part I: Wait, These Are Actually Good Ideas," contained suggestions that were viewed as more grounded or practical compared to later entries in the list. The first proposal in this section was labeled with the number 1.
The publication indicated that the full list of 22 strategies was intended to be read sequentially, with the nature of the proposals becoming "increasingly unhinged" as the list progressed. The article did not detail the specific content of all 22 proposals in the provided excerpt, but it established the framework for a diverse range of opinions among the staff regarding the future direction of professional basketball.
Publication Timing and Audience Engagement
The timing of the article coincided with the start of the NFL season, which The Ringer noted was "great" but insufficient in filling the void left by the conclusion of the NBA's previous major events. The publication acknowledged its audience as "hoopheads" who were looking for content during the six-week gap before NBA opening night.
The article invited engagement by presenting the staff's collective brainstorming as a response to a simple question. The resulting compilation served as both a reflection of internal editorial opinions and a speculative look at potential structural alterations to the sport. The piece concluded its preview by stating, "without further ado, here are 22 increasingly unhinged ways to fix the NBA," directing readers to the full list for detailed descriptions of each proposed change.