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The NBA Board of Governors on Thursday approved a competitive format to restart the 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play and a tentative start date of Friday, July 31.
With the format agreed upon, and the season schedule beginning to materialize, the league announced the NBA Draft Lottery would take place on Aug. 25 with the Draft set for Oct. 15. The Draft Combine is also expected to occur in August, as well.
As the 2019-20 season schedule comes into focus, the calendar for the 2020-21 season is starting to become clearer.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, training camp for next season would be set for Nov. 10 with opening night on Dec. 1. In other words, a Dec. 1 start would be a quick turnaround for draftees in the 2020 NBA Draft, as noted by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.
Dec. 1 opening night means next season's rookies will be making their NBA debuts just 6 weeks after being drafted (10/15, per Woj). https://t.co/ZpaRCKC5A7
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 4, 2020
Of course, the dates for next season are fluid and are subject to change but it is shaping up to be a quick offseason for players and prospects alike. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the schedule of the NBA will likely be changed permanently with future seasons beginning in December.
Prospects typically have the opportunity to play in Summer League and then have the rest of the summer to prepare for the NBA season. With Summer League scrapped this year, players will have roughly six weeks in between the draft and the start of the regular season to prepare.
As a result, teams may opt to bring rookies along more slowly than in past years until they are up to speed with their new system and teammates. The situation should be worth monitoring.
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