The potential offseason and 2020-21 NBA season schedule came into clearer focus this morning after league offices informed the Board of Governors that the 2020-21 season will not begin sooner than Christmas Day, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The 2020 NBA Draft — currently tentatively scheduled for November 18th after being moved from October — may also be shifted as further plans unfold.
The moves came after it became evident team Governors were not confident in the league’s hoped-for rapid turn around from the 2019-20 season, slated to end in mid-October, with the 2020 Draft originally moved to the 18th of that month from its usual summer slot.
NBA’s league office informed Board of Governors today that the 2020-21 season won’t begin earlier than Christmas Day, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Nov. 18 Draft date, 20-21 start date remain fluid.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 10, 2020
The additional time may also bring clarity about the possibility of hosting games in home arenas, potentially injecting much-needed revenue into local economies if the local pandemic situation is amenable to such a course of action by that time.
For now, the focus is on the successful completion of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, but with just over a month left before the projected end of the 2019-20 NBA season left, expect further decisions to be made about scheduling and format to come soon.
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