The NBA seems to have decided on a date to resume its season. According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has informed the Board of Governors that the target date for the NBA’s return is July 31st.
The NBA was actually the first of the major sports league to suspend their season (undoubtedly due to the Rudy Gobert fiasco). The league has done a remarkable job trying to flexibly find a solution and have been in constant communication to discuss how to resume when it was safe to do so. The NBA has really done an impressive job trying to stay ahead of the curve while simultaneously trying to flatten the curve.
The league has looked into many potential plans for the returning season From the sound of things the season would likely finish in Orlando Florida with the specific destination likely being ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. With practice facilities open again, things are moving in the right direction for the league to return.
Questions still remain on how the playoffs will be seeded, if there will be more regular-season games, or if there will be some type of play-in tournament for the playoffs. The NBA will likely encourage more potential NBA teams having a chance at the playoffs as some stars on the outside looking in included: Damian Lillard, Zion Williamson, and DeMar DeRozan
Lillard reportedly stated that he would not participate in the returning season unless his team had a shot at making the playoffs. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson is the most exciting rookie the NBA has seen since LeBron James. The league will likely pursue any chance to show off their prize young star.
Time will tell what decisions the finished product looks like. No matter what, today was a big step back towards the return of basketball.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
