The future of the 2019-20 NBA season still hangs in the balance due to the coronavirus pandemic. In turn, the 2020-21 season will be affected as well.

The most recent report reveals that the NBA could delay the start of next season and might extend into July or August.

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the 2020-21 NBA season could have its opening night in December.

Upon the suspension of the 2019-20 season, there were already whispers on how it could affect the following season. NBA players had a hunch that in the event the 2019-20 season resumes sometime in the summer, then the 2020-21 season could start in December. In this arrangement, players believe that a lockout-like schedule would be followed which means that teams will play less than 82 games in the regular season.

The last NBA lockout occurred in 2011 where teams played 66 games. The lockout officially ended on Dec. 8 while the opening night was held on Christmas day. The playoff schedule was not affected and ran from the end of April to mid-June.

But if Woj’s report turns into reality — that the 2020-21 season could extend into July or August — then the NBA might not follow a lockout-like schedule. After all, July and August are offseason months for the NBA where players rest and train. Teams, meanwhile, look for potential transactions to beef up their squad.

The NBA has allowed teams to open their practice facilities, only if their city has relaxed its stay-at-home restrictions. But on the matter of whether the 2019-20 season would still resume, the league hasn’t announced anything just yet.

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