Silver: Dec. 1 start for next season is feeling a 'little bit early'

NBA commissioner Adam Silver conceded Thursday that the league's preference for next season's start date may be a little optimistic.

"Dec. 1 now that we're working through this season, is feeling a little bit early to me," Silver told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "Our No. 1 goal is to get fans back in our arenas. My sense is in working with the players' association - if we could push back even a little longer and increase the likelihood of having fans in arenas, that's what we would be targeting."

It was reported earlier this month the NBA was thinking about pushing its desired 2020-21 start date back. The league is now considering a variety of approaches to get fans into arenas, Silver added this week.

"We're continuing to look at all the different testing methods," he said. "We are current on vaccine developments and antivirals and other protocols around the possibility of bringing people together in arenas."

The latest possible NBA Finals date this season is Oct. 13, with the draft scheduled three days later. It was reported Thursday that the NBPA anticipates free agency being delayed.

Several NBA figures, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, have said they'd like to see the league permanently move its start date to Christmas Day.