Adam Silver: ‘best guess’ for next season tip-off is January 2021

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told Bob Costas on CNN that he doesn’t expect the next season to start before the next calendar year.

The NBA Bubble has been a success for the league and their hopes of salvaging the 2019-20 season, as the league is getting closer to the NBA Finals and crowning a 2020 champion. But one of the big questions hanging over the NBA Restart has been, when will the next season start? It’s looking increasingly likely that the season will not start until the calendar turns to 2021 and Adam Silver confirmed what he tea leaves have been saying.

Silver joined CNN on Tuesday morning to talk with Bob Costas, where he admitted that the league’s initial hopes of a start in December is unlikely and that a season starting in January is the most likely scenario for the league, as they hope to play a full 82-game schedule in home arenas.

Adam Silver has long said that the NBA’s goal is to play in front of fans in home arenas next season. However, that will likely depend on how soon a vaccine is developed. Also, with every arena and team residing in different states, the rules on size for gatherings vary across the country. So while some teams may have fans allowed in arenas, others may not be allowed to do so.

However, the NBA is trying to give themselves as much time as possible, pushing back the NBA Draft and giving themselves a runway before they have to lockdown the details of next season.

[lawrence-related id=34588,34585]