Oklahoma City Thunder fans have started to look beyond the playoffs and toward the NBA draft with eyes on next season.
Now, there have been exact dates for the season that have been reported. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the league plans to start the 2021-22 NBA season on Oct. 19, which would revert the NBA schedule back to its usual timeline.
The league sent a memo to teams outlining the important dates, according to AP’s Tim Reynolds.
The playoffs are scheduled to begin April 16, according to Charania, the time of a normal NBA postseason.
The 2010-20 and 2020-21 seasons were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Because the 2020 postseason ended in October, the start of the next season had to be pushed back. It began in late December, more than two months after a normal season.
The 2020-21 postseason was also pushed back. The Finals are now scheduled to end in July.
This upcoming offseason will be shorter than the normal one once again.
Here is the upcoming schedule, according to Charania. Game 7 of the 2021 Finals, if necessary, would take place on July 22, giving Finals teams a two-month break.
Sept. 28: Training camp begins
Oct. 19: Regular season begins
April 16: Playoffs begin
June 2: Finals Game 1
June 19: Finals Game 7
June 23: 2022 NBA Draft
Mark that down on your calendars, NBA fans. The 2021-22 season will be here before you know it.