The expected start date for the 2020-2021 season is expected to start on December 22nd. Instead of the regular 82 games, there will only be 72 this time around.
What We Know:
- The National Basketball Players Association voted on Thursday to start this coming season on December 22nd. The NBPA board is composed of 1 player from each team. Some of the things that had to be discussed were how much escrow will be taken from player salaries, because of the shorter-than-usual season, and how the league and the players will navigate testing and other health and safety issues amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the Omaha World Herald.
- When the coronavirus outbreak happened, the NBA had to come to an immediate halt. They were on hold for more than four months and decided to resume in the summer but without an audience. Most NBA cities are still unable to have public gatherings of more than 500 people. The NBA plans to start the season without fans in the arenas, with little confidence that they’ll be able to return anytime early in the season as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the country.
- The NBA draft is scheduled to happen on November 18th and training camps starting on December 1st. Most likely, free agency would have to happen in between those two dates and trades need to be allowed once again. A 72-game season, by league estimates, would allow for $500 million more in revenue than a season of no more than 60 games — the mid-January option — would have provided.
- With the NBA starting on December 22nd, the Christmas schedule is likely to happen still. In addition to this, the season is also expected to conclude before the start of next summer’s Tokyo Olympics which means NBA player participation in those games remains possible.
Many are excited about the return of the NBA and are expecting a great and safe season.
