The NBA Board of Governors held a two-hour meeting Friday afternoon to discuss details pertaining to a resumption of the suspended 2019-20 season.
There’s nothing concrete at this point. A full plan is expected at some point within the next week. Though, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver did set a target date of July 31 to resume the season.
This makes sense in that it would take a three-week training camp for players to get back into shape. At this point, team facilities have opened with strict social-distancing protocols amid the ongoing pandemic. Said protocols would have to be loosened in order for camps to even start up.
Though, this is the first time we’ve heard a concrete date as it relates to the resumption of a season that has been suspended since back on March 11.
The NBA also discussed four different competition scenarios for the return to the season, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
- Directly to the playoffs with 16 teams
- Group stage play with 20 teams
- Play-in tournament with 22 teams
- 72-game regular season with play-in tournament
At this point, a majority of NBA general managers back an expanded playoff field with at least a few regular-season games before the start of the playoffs.
It sure looks like the plan is coming together.
