NBA reportedly targeting July 31 return to play, to vote on format next week
NBA commissioner Adam Silver held a call with the league’s Board of Governors on Friday, and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Silver told the group that July 31 is a target date for play to resume.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league office informed Board of Governors that July 31 is a target date for return of season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 29, 2020
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that the Board of Governors will vote next Thursday on the format the league will return to play in, and the group is expected to approve whatever plan Silver and the NBA Players Association decides upon (play will occur in Orlando).
The NBA is planning a Thursday vote of the Board of Governors -- with an expectation that owners will approve Adam Silver’s recommendation on a format to re-start the season in Orlando, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2020
Charania said four competition scenarios were discussed on the call Friday: 16 teams going directly to the playoffs, 20 teams playing in a group/stage format, 22 teams with games to determine seeds and a play-in tournament for final seeds and all 30 teams getting to 72 regular season games, plus a play-in tournament.
That final scenario is “unlikely,” Charania reported.
Sources: The NBA discussed four competition scenarios for restart with Board of Governors today:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 29, 2020
- 16 teams: Directly to playoffs
- 20: Group/stage play
- 22: Games to determine seeding, play-in tournament for final seed(s)
- 30: 72-game regular season, with play-in tourney
Wojnarowski reported that teams “expect to include invitations for 20-to-22 teams to resume the season.”
Owners are largely planning to pledge support for Silver's final recommedation on a plan, which teams expect to include invitations for 20-to-22 teams to resume the season, sources tell @ramonashelburne, @ZachLowe_NBA and me. https://t.co/8waxNm1Dpc
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2020
Charania also reported Friday that team general managers were sent the results of a survey they received earlier this month. According to Charania, 53% of general managers voted in the survey to go straight to the playoffs when the season resumes, with 27% voting for a play-in before playoff teams are finalized.
Sources: The NBA discussed four competition scenarios for restart with Board of Governors today:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 29, 2020
- 16 teams: Directly to playoffs
- 20: Group/stage play
- 22: Games to determine seeding, play-in tournament for final seed(s)
- 30: 72-game regular season, with play-in tourney