The NBA continues to weigh all its options for a potential resumption of the 2019-20 season, and one proposal could see it taking another five months to crown a champion.
Veteran forward Jared Dudley, an NBPA representative for the Los Angeles Lakers, tweeted this weekend that commissioner Adam Silver told players that the current season could end as late as October. Dudley said that the thinking was to potentially delay the start of next season until December or January to afford a chance for fan presence if a vaccine or treatment becomes available.
I heard even Oct from Adam Silver today… https://t.co/51gBWTTW7I
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 9, 2020
Oct was the latest I’ve heard.. The Thinking is the longer it takes to finish the longer they can push back the start of next season until December or January. Then giving the league a possible chance for fans if a vaccine or treatment comes available https://t.co/twmU7KXcy9
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 9, 2020
NBA seasons normally begin in October, so such a proposal would obviously lead to a drastic overhaul of the current league calendar. However, a late start to the 2020-21 season would not be entirely unprecedented, as 2011 saw the new season start on Christmas Day following the NBA lockout that year.
The league is working out other logistics as well, including where to host play if the current season does resume. There doesn’t seem to be any hurry though, as the NBA sounds content to sit tight until it is safe and sensible to pick things up again.
