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The NBA has announced the key dates for the upcoming 2020-21 season, including the placement of the All-Star break, the play-in tournament, and the 2021 NBA playoffs. The preseason starts December 11th, followed by the start of the regular season on December 22nd.
2021-21 NBA Key Dates pic.twitter.com/D3YmuhQoRH
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) November 28, 2020
Although there may not be an All-Star game in 2021, the league will apparently still take a five-day break. Indianapolis was set to host the game, but their hosting duties have been pushed back to 2024. What is actually set to happen during the break remains unclear, but it is unlikely that a traditional All-Star week will be held, given coronavirus concerns.
New this year is the play-in tournament for the playoffs, which the league experimented with in the Orlando bubble. After the play-in, the 2021 NBA Playoffs will begin in late May, extending on into July. Whether or not the league will be able to return to an 82-game schedule next year is not apparent at this time, but the July end date seems to indicate a move toward a return to a normal NBA season in future years.