LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives the fans after the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 03, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE

Report: NBA may delay 2020-21 season start date to allow for fans

6 years ago
Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / Getty

The NBA could push back its planned start date for the 2020-21 season - Dec. 1 - if the delay would allow for arenas to be reopened for fans, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The league has considered Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18 as a potential date for opening night, while February and March are also options if necessary COVID-19 testing measures that would allow for the possibility of public gatherings are in place.

With this season's NBA Finals scheduled to run until Oct. 12 at the latest, the 2020-21 campaign's current projected start date means players on Finals teams would have less than a month off before training camps begin.

It was previously reported in June that the league was reluctant to push back the start of next season for fear of conflicting with the Tokyo Olympics next summer.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES