The NBA is aiming to start the 2020-21 season as early as Dec. 22 — about two and a half months after LeBron James, Danny Green, and the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 championship in the bubble on Oct. 11.

If that happens, it's possible some veteran members of the Lakers, including James, may choose to begin their season at a later date.

“Most guys, if they we start in December, [are like] ‘I'm not going to be there.'” Lakers guard Danny Green said on The Ringer NBA Show. “It's not like we have a bunch of young guys and rookies … ‘Bron has been in the Finals 10 years out of his 17 years … To have that quick of a restart, I wouldn't expect him to be there. I wouldn't expect to seen him for the first month of the season.”

He did say James could practice with the Lakers before playing in games. Green said his teammates' mindset could change in “two weeks” when the players return to the facilities and ramp up training.

Green also acknowledged that players who advanced deep into the playoffs, especially the Lakers and Heat, are more apprehensive about the late-December tip-off compared to players on other teams, some of whom haven't played since March.

Green, who is the Lakers' players association representative, revealed that discussions have taken place about implementing two or four bubbles if need be at the beginning of the season.

A Dec. 22 start would give the returning Lakers players 71 days off between Game 6 of the Finals and next season's opener. By comparison, the Toronto Raptors had 130 days off between Game 6 of the 2019 Finals (June 13) and their next official game (Oct. 22).

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the NBA was shooting for a 72-game regular season beginning Dec. 22.

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