The NBA and NBPA announced on Friday that they have agreed to push back to November 6 as the date by which either party may notify the other of an intention to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The deadline had previously been October 30. If either party provides notice by November 6, the CBA will terminate by December 14 unless the parties agree otherwise.
The @NBA and @TheNBPA extend their deadline to potentially opt out of the current CBA another week, to Nov. 6, allowing discussions to continue on the league’s proposal for a December 22 start to the 2020-21 season: pic.twitter.com/BFXfW0TyiD
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) October 31, 2020
This is already the fourth time the NBA and NBPA have extended the CBA opt-out deadline. The NBA wants to start the 2020-21 season around Christmas, while the NBPA prefers a later start date to allow players who played in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World more time to rest and recover.
The NBA reportedly wants a shortened 72-game season with a December 22 start date. Playing fewer games than that in a potential January start hasn’t been raised yet, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Per Woj, “economic issues remain significant, including escrow withholding on player salaries with revenues down because of no fans at games due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The last time there was a shortened season before 2019-20 was back in 2011-12 due to the lockout. A total of 66 games were played that campaign during the regular season. Opening night was on Christmas.
This is clearly a situation that remains fluid. Hopefully, fans don’t have another lockout on their hands, but the NBA and NBPA still have a ways to go.
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