An NBA team could win their division but miss out on the playoffs under a proposed rule change. Under the proposal, the top-eight teams from each conference would qualify for the playoffs.

"First of all, it's never happened before that a division winner did not finish within the top eight, and our basketball analytics folks calculate that there's less than a 5 percent chance that it would happen," Adam Silver said before taking part in a panel discussion at the Beyond Sport United program.

"Where we are leaning right now is that we would not guarantee a spot for a division winner in part because it's so unlikely to happen, and No. 2 if it does happen it would be potentially confusing to fans. No. 3, you would be displacing a team that did have a top-eight record."

Adam Silver told the media that the competition committee has recommended seeding playoff teams 1-8 in each conference based on record and give no preference to division winners.

Owners have yet to vote on the proposal but Silver expects it to pass.

In recent seasons, teams with inferior records have had higher seeds due to winning their division.