The NBA is currently discussing plans for next season.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NBA to finish the 2019-2020 season later than usual.
Early reports state the NBA is hoping for a start date around Christmas Day with the draft officially scheduled for November 18th.
Los Angeles Laker guard Danny Green believes this early of a start date could lead some players to miss the first month of the season.
Green appeared on “The Ringer NBA Show” this past Monday to discuss training camp potentially starting December 1st.
Lakers guard Danny Green on the proposed Dec. 22 start to next season:
“If we start in December, I think most guys [are like] ‘I’m not going to be there… to have that quick of a restart, I wouldn’t expect [LeBron] to be there for the 1st month of the season.” pic.twitter.com/NYqNxzNEmZ
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) October 26, 2020
Green cited the lack of rest between the end of last season and the beginning of next season.
Players had 132 days between the last game of the 2019 finals and the start of the 2019-2020 season.
With the proposed December start date, that number would be cut to 73 days.
The Lakers are a veteran-heavy team, and older players rely on the offseason to heal their bodies and prepare for the next season.
A drastically shortened offseason and rushed training camp could lead to injuries.
Financial Reasons Push the Early Start
There are a few reasons the NBA wants to start in December.
The main reason is revenue.
Christmas Day usually features a slate of games with top tier teams, which is a big draw for viewers.
A return to playoffs in April, May, and June would also ensure the NBA does not have to compete with the NFL and MLB in August, September, and October.
Reports indicate a pre-Christmas start would bring in an additional $500 million in revenue compared to a post-Christmas start.
A post-Christmas start, while pushing playoffs deeper into the summer, could also jeopardize television contracts with regional networks that require 70 games to be played.
The other reason is it would allow the NBA to finish the season before the Olympics begin in late July.
The NBA gets tons of international exposure from Team USA.
If headline stars are missing from the Olympics, fewer people will be interested.
League Support for December Start
There is some support within the league for a December start date.
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers tweeted he is in favor if it “gets [his] summer offseason back…”.
If that gets my summer off season back lol https://t.co/iukbRDdBok
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) October 26, 2020
A December start for next season would also allow the NBA to get back to a regular schedule for the 2021-2022 season.
With a laundry list of mega-stars set to hit the open market following next season, teams would prefer to have a non-shortened offseason.
October 30th has been listed as a deadline date to complete negotiations.
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