NBPA tentatively approves plan for 2020-21 season to start Dec. 22, playing 72 games

It looks like the new upcoming 2020-21 NBA season tips off in 47 days.

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) confirmed that the organization had “tentatively approved a start date of Dec. 22” and played a reduced 72-game schedule.

“Additional details remain to be negotiated, and the NBPA is confident that the parties will reach agreement on these remaining issues relevant to the upcoming season,” NBPA said in a statement.

According to ESPN, the league believes if the season starts Dec. 22, it’ll be financially beneficial.

“The league believes that a Dec. 22 start that includes Christmas Day games on television and allows for a 72-game schedule that finishes before the Summer Olympics in mid-July is worth between $500 million and $1 billion in short- and long-term revenues to the league and players,” sources told ESPN.

The last game of the 2019-20 season was played on Oct. 11 when the league crowned the Los Angeles Lakers NBA champions by defeating the Miami Heat.

The league officially announced back on Oct. 22 that its upcoming draft, which will be held at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, on Nov. 18, would be virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The selections would be announced live by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.