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The NBA may want to start the 2020-21 season around Christmas, but there may not be enough time to sort out all of the logistics.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the league shared that message on a call with league GM’s:
ESPN Sources: NBA had a call with its general managers today, reiterating that there’s still no timeline agreed upon with NBPA to start the 2020-2021 season. Talks continue with union, but there's an increasingly short window to get an agreement in place for a pre-Christmas tip.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 2, 2020
There is posturing on both sides, but if the league gets its way for a December start date, versus a proposed MLK Day season opener favored by some players, the league and the union are running out of time. Adam Silver reportedly agrees:
Sources: On the chances of getting an agreement for a Dec. 22 start to season -- with training camps presumably needing to start within a month -- Commissioner Adam Silver told teams today: "We're running out of time." https://t.co/07J7KKMy2y
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 2, 2020
Woj also reported that the league is concerned about the projected loss of revenue with a January start:
And without assurances that the pandemic will allow for fans in arenas this season — and projections that their absence could cost the league more than $4 billion in lost revenue — the NBA fears delaying the start of the 2020-21 season until January could cost the league an additional $500 million to $1 billion in revenue losses next season and beyond, sources said.
Obviously, there are a lot of issues at play here. Woj tweets what the NBPA been focused on:
The NBPA's engaged with conversations with players on the issue of the start date of the season -- December or January -- and also continues to negotiate with the league on a number of financial amendments to the CBA needing resolution for start of 2020-2021 season, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 2, 2020
What should the NBA target for a return date? Let us know in the comments!