The NBA cleared its final hurdle to restart the 2019-20 season with a vote of approval from the NBA Players Association (NBAPA), though some caveats were included. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, player representatives voted to confirm the league’s 22-team plan to finish the season in Orlando by mid-October.
However, NBAPA Executive Director Michele Roberts noted that plans for the start of the 2020-21 season as well as dates for the NBA Draft and Draft Lottery would all be negotiated in the coming days and weeks.
The Pelicans’ player representative is Nicolo Melli.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on some of the finer details in regards to the restart. The NBA is planning on two or three exhibition games before the eight-game regular season. Up to three family members per player may attend after the first round of the playoffs. There will also be daily testing of players for COVID-19 and a quarantine of at least seven days will be required if a player tests positive, though the league will continue on through a positive test.
Teams are set to begin training camp in early July and the first regular season game is planned for July 31.
