The NBPA is planning to hold a vote on Thursday or Friday regarding the Dec. 22 start format for the 2020-21 NBA season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

NBA players believe a Dec. 22 start is “inevitable.”

The National Basketball Players Association is planning to hold a vote on Thursday night or Friday morning regarding the Dec. 22 start format to the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, sources told The Athletic.

The NBPA, led by executive director Michele Roberts, started formal conference calls with players from all 30 teams this week. Players have been holding calls with the NBPA beginning Monday and will go through Thursday morning. Players coming out of several meetings believe a Dec. 22 start is inevitable, sources said.

If the 2020-21 NBA season starts on Dec. 22, Charania is reporting that there will likely be three-to-four preseason games, a 72-game regular season, 14 back-to-back games for each team and a 25 percent reduction in travel.

The 2021 NBA playoffs would start around May 22, with the Finals concluding around July 22.

However, if the 2020-21 campaign begins on Jan. 18, then the season would only have 60 games and there would be 24 back-to-back games per team. The 2021 playoffs would begin around June 28 and the Finals would end around August 21-23.

The NBA and NBPA hope to maintain a salary cap and tax of $109 million and $132 million, respectively.

It’s going to be fascinating to see what eventually happens, but basketball fans are just happy that the NBA is planning to hold a 2020-21 campaign.