NBA Reportedly Gets Go Ahead for 22-Team Format and Sets Draft Date
By Michael Luciano
The national basketball nightmare is finally over. The NBA is coming back.
The league's Board of Governors has agreed to approve the league's 22-team proposal that involves restarting the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando at Walt Disney World in July, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
The NBA’s Board of Governors has voted to approve the league’s 22-team format to restart the 2019-2020 season in Orlando, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
In addition to the 16 teams that would have made the playoffs if the season ended toay, six non-playoff teams (Wizards, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Suns, Kings, Spurs) will make the trip down to Florida in order to finish off their regular season and compete for the postseason.
Unfortunately, the season restarting in July means that a few important offseason events will be delayed. The NBA confirmed that the 2020 NBA Draft will take place on October 15, with the Draft Lottery taking place August 25 in order to give teams enough time to scout top prospects after the order of the top 14 picks has been decided.
NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020
This could be a sign that the start of the 2020-2021 NBA season is delayed to make up for the congested offseason.
While the end of the 2019-20 NBA season will look unlike any other season in league history, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. The season will indeed continue, and a champion will be crowned.