New York Times NBA reporter Marc Stein reports that if the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) elect to start their season later than the Christmas week start proposed by the NBA, there may only be time for a 50-game season.
This is due in part at least to broadcasting partners reportedly wanting the season to avoid clashing with the Tokyo Olympics along with a desire for the league to move as close to its normal seasonal schedule by the end of the 2020-21 season.
Currently, the plan would be to have a 72-game season ending before the Olympics begin — also allowing players to represent their home countries without issue — with 14 games per month to take place until May, with the 2020 playoffs ending in late July.
NBA players may only be offered a 50-game season, I'm told, if the union insists on a mid-January start rather than the Dec. 22 proposal, because the league's television partners do not want the 2020-21 season to stray past mid-July … or clash with the Tokyo Olympics
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 30, 2020
Should the NBPA instead elect for a later start date, that 50-game schedule may come into play — and along with it a significant reduction in player salary.
Stein relates both sides are optimistic a resolution will be found in the coming week, with NBPA executive committee member and Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon informing ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he expects today’s deadline for a resolution to be extended.
