Hopefuls for the 2020 NBA Draft will have to wait a little bit longer before hearing their name called.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association have agreed to push back the date of the draft, and with it will likely also be the postponement of key dates of the 2020-21 season including the first game, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The draft had been scheduled for Oct. 16. Charania reported that the draft is still expected to be held in October.
As that day moves back, free agency too will almost certainly be delayed from the proposed start date of Oct. 18.
Draft is still scheduled in October, but expected to be pushed back. NBPA in memo sent to agents tonight: “All other dates related to the 2020-21 Season are likewise postponed to dates that will later be agreed upon by the NBA and NBPA.“ https://t.co/Axfbmkpo2M
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 8, 2020
The Oklahoma City Thunder have the No. 25 pick in the draft.
Free agency will be notable not just for those the Thunder may have interest in signing, but in players they might lose. Power forward Danilo Gallinari will be one of the more sought-after free agents of this offseason.
The beginning of next season will likely be pushed back as well. The league was targeting Dec. 1 as its start date.
ESPN reported in August that the NBA hopes delaying the start of the season will allow fans to be at more games. Game-night income makes up 40% of the league’s revenue, according to ESPN. Getting fans into more games would somewhat assuage financial woes caused by the coronavirus and relations with China.
