NBA players agree to start 2020-21 season on December 22

After initial expectations that the next NBA season wouldn’t start until next year, possibly as late or February or March, it’s now been confirmed that the 2020-21 season will begin far sooner after all.

The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has approved a start date of December 22 for a new 72-game season.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported some extra details, including that the NBA and NBPA are discussing plans to begin free agency as soon as possible after the NBA Draft on November 18 — so far, it’s been reported that this could be as soon as November 20. With a plan to open team training camps on December 1, free agents need all the time they can get to find their new deals and complete any travel on time.

Wojnarowski added that the NBA and NBPA are still negotiating the financial terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which will likely carry into next week. When everything is finalized, the NBA can end the moratorium and teams will be able to complete trades again before the draft.

Make sure you check out Wojnarowski’s full report for more details on the league’s revenue and CBA situation.

We also heard this week that even though the NBA is coming back so soon, they are still aiming to bring back fans to arenas in a reduced capacity, along with the use of masks, social distancing and coronavirus testing.

With the moratorium about to be lifted and the draft and free agency rapidly approaching, it’s almost time for Daryl Morey to fully get to work as the Philadelphia 76ers’ new President of Basketball Operations. It’s going to be a hectic offseason, but with the impressive new coaching staff that’s been assembled under Doc Rivers and a completely revamped front office, the Sixers and their fans finally have good reasons to be optimistic.