With the 2020 NBA playoffs well underway and everything going smoothly in the Orlando bubble, some of the focus is being shifted towards the start of the 2020-21 season.
While there are several question marks regarding how the season will look amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the key dates are slowly coming together.
The NBA told the board of governors that the earliest the season will start is Christmas Day, per Shams Charania. Charania also mentions that the NBA Draft is still happening on November 18.
The last time a season started on Christmas was the 2011-12 lockout year. This start date would give all teams at least two months to rest after the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign, depending on how long their season lasted.
It’s not much compared to the usual, prolonged break between seasons, but it makes sense, seeing as players already had a 4-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Until that happens, the playoffs will have to unfold, with seven teams still in the running for the 2020 NBA championship.
