The NBA is expecting arenas to be filled again next season and a return to its normal calendar, Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday, while cautioning again that every plan is contingent on continued progress in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus. “We ended up playing 95% of our games,” Silver said. “By the time we reach the playoffs in mid-May, things will even be considerably better than they are now,” Silver said. The Tokyo Olympics? Coronavirus The next CBA might dial back the NBA age requirement from 19 to 18, which enabled stars like Bryant, Garnett, LeBron James and others to skip college entirely. Don't worry, basketball fans -- you're now just 47 days away from your next fix of hoops action. Most immediately, Silver stated that the league does not anticipate using a bubble for the playoffs this season. John-Michael Bond . We’ll have over a billion social media views and engagements. Silver discussed a number of other topics, including: • Recent concerns about opportunities for black head coaching candidates, triggered by Minnesota’s quick employment of Chris Finch as Ryan Saunders’ replacement, have fueled ongoing discussions at NBA headquarters. NBA. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLC’s Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, All-Star preview: What to expect on Sunday, Referees Blogtable: Special connection between alumni, Pelicans’ Redick out at least week with heel inflammation, LeBron, Lakers tops so far in NBA merchandise sales, Heat's Leonard fined $50K, suspended for 1 week, 57 finalists for U.S. Olympic Men's Team announced, 10 stats to know for tonight's TNT doubleheader. Nothing like that planned this time. “Maybe for the first time in the past year,” Silver said, in a virtual news conference, “I’m fairly optimistic that as we see fans returning to our arenas, as we see public health officials across the country begin to open up sporting events, theaters, restaurants, other forms of entertainment, I feel pretty good that we’re going to continue apace.”. “My sense is most will ultimately decide that it’s in their interest to get vaccinated,” Silver said. DENVER (AP) — Paul Millsap scored a season-high 22 points on his 36th birthday, Michael Porter Jr. added 19 and the Denver Nuggets routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 133 … Silver said he was not aware of any players who have been vaccinated yet. The league has been working to educate players and teams on the benefits of getting the vaccine when they become eligible and when it becomes more readily available. Obviously, we won’t have that same flexibility in the second half. When does the 2020-21 NBA Basketball Regular Season Start? There are no “concrete plans” to resume summer league later this year in Las Vegas, Silver said. The NBA has resumed for the 2021-22 season. Players will end up taking a reduction in salary this season because they are partners with the league and teams on revenue. “There’s no coach that I know who wants to get hired based on his skin color, but they want a fair opportunity,” the commissioner said. Phil West. Many involved talk about the grind and isolation they’ve endured in what the NBA terms “work quarantine,” but the results are hard to deny. Hornets forward Gordon Hayward, in his 11th NBA season, says the only thing he can compare this year to was the lockout in 2011, which resulted in a 66-game season …        Vaccination #s There’s not many players doing more on less than Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal in the off-season. Taylor has flirted with selling the franchise for years, but invariably has maintained his majority position. “It’s one where I think we’re both on both sides of the issue sometimes in terms of what it will mean for the league having younger players,” Silver said. The latest updates from all of Boston's sports teams. But it sounded as if the commissioner likes the mix available to US prospects, which includes a year or more of NCAA participation, a gap year in the G League prior to the NBA or maybe even the Overtime Elite idea. Even the National Basketball Coaches Association said hiring processes need to be more transparent, and said it wants to work with the league on initiatives that will improve future coaching searches. That will be very helpful in getting people back in the arenas.”. Get ready for Thursday's TNT doubleheader with five key stats to know about each matchup. “I don’t think that every player certainly needs to be vaccinated for fans to come back,” Silver said. Minorities and even women are more broadly represented in those jobs than even a few years ago. Finally, the commissioner said that he and the owners anticipate that a full 82-game. Citing 'effort,' Bruce Cassidy explained why he's benching Jake DeBrusk, Here are the best mic’d up moments from the Bruins' Lake Tahoe trip, NFL franchise tag deadline: Bucs hold onto Chris Godwin, What the Trent Brown trade means for the Patriots' offensive line, Here's how Trent Brown reacted to reportedly being traded back to the Patriots, Site … It’s sort of what we do. By clicking "Submit", you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. But otherwise, things may largely appear back to normal — with the NBA eyeing a return to the 82-game schedule, starting in October and ending in June. Want every headline right at your fingertips? “They accept that. “It requires real engagement.”. For me, it would have been a bigger deal not to have it.”. Last year’s league was canceled because of the pandemic, and the NBA Finals are scheduled to go until as late as July 22 — around when summer league is usually concluding. Past NBA Regular Season Start Dates. Enable breaking news notifications straight to your internet browser. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. What Silver said might not have sounded many alarms at that time. Adam Silver is hoping for the NBA to return to normal by the start of next season. Results of the lists are based off sales on NBAStore.com for the first half of this season. Some coaches, including San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, have gotten the vaccine. “I’m fairly optimistic, at this point, that we will be able to start on time,” Silver said from Atlanta, in his annual news conference that precedes the All-Star Game. “I think we’re going to end up (with) maybe an abbreviated summer league, mini-camps and other opportunities,” Silver said. The guard underwent a non-surgical procedure Thursday to relieve inflammation and soreness in his right heel. We were able to have the flexibility to push games into the second half of the season. NBA League Pass will make sure you can binge on basketball. You agree that your personal information will be used to send you messages about NBA related products and services, and share your personal information with NBA partners and affiliates so that they can also contact you about products and services that might be of interest to you. What does ESPN's new deal to air NHL games mean for viewers? The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting. In a shift from years past, the NBA league office will require college seniors to petition the league for inclusion on the NBA early-entry list in order to become draft-eligible in 2021. The National Rugby League Can Be Optimistic As 2021 Season Gets Underway Mar 10, 2021, 10:11pm EST WWE NXT Results: Winners, News And Notes With Women’s Tag Title Announcement On March 10, 2021 Silver noted the discussions he and National Basketball Players Association chief Michele Roberts have had and will continue to have in anticipation of the next collective bargaining agreement. ... Sep 22 2020 4:19 ... basketball team could proceed without top NBA stars if the league's season … “It doesn’t feel to me that this is the appropriate moment to be changing the logo,” Silver said. Jan 27, 2021, 1:25 am* Services . But I think when we all step back, we all feel very fortunate to be working under these circumstances and my sense is the players feel the same way.”. “Because we went forward with All-Star, not only did roughly 100 million people vote for the All-Stars on a global basis, but based on past ratings, well over 100 million people will watch the game and the ancillary competitions. The Grizzlies and Wizards have had six games postponed. Along with this announcement, the league states that there will be a play in tournament that will decide the seventh and eight seed for each conference. Halfway through the league’s second pandemic-challenged season, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday he can see a 2021-22 that looks, feels and plays a lot more like normal. • Despite a burst of energy in recent weeks about alternative silhouettes for the NBA’s official logo, including the late Kobe Bryant, Silver made it sound as if the league’s avatar will continue as is for the foreseeable future: an outline of Lakers HOFer Jerry West in full dribble, though its identity never has been confirmed. 1 scoring duo in the NBA. As per the official release, here are the key aspects in relation to the structuring of these 72 games: Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the NBA logo and its design. Silver said he and NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts have ongoing dialogue about whether to allow players to enter the NBA draft at the age of 18 again and essentially eliminating the so-called one-and-done policy where players in most circumstances need to go to college for a year before turning pro. League executives, team executives have all taken haircuts on their salary. “It has more to do with the larger brand value of the NBA,” he said. “I don’t think that every player certainly needs to be vaccinated for fans to come back. But based on developments in dealing with COVID-19 in this country, as well as strides already taken by professional sports leagues — including the NBA’s decision to stage its 70th All-Star Game Sunday in Atlanta — things appear to be trending up. “Optionality is good,” Silver said, while adding: “For us right now, the NBA, we don’t want to be in the business of paying minors.”, • Some quick ejections and regrettable mistakes, highlighted by eagerly awaited but impotent last-2-minute reports issued the day after, have put the quality of this half season’s officiating in the spotlight. Garnett and a group of investors were among several suitors in Taylor’s most recent call for bids. He added: “No more do I think the fact that every fan won’t be vaccinated is an impediment of fans coming back to the arena. The ongoing rollout of COVID vaccinations similarly will be tracked closely. I think it’s with a combination of vaccines, antibodies, herd immunity in communities, proper safety and cleanliness protocols, we’ll be able to return to something that looks a lot closer to normal beginning next season.”, Silver did point out that getting vaccinated would open up what has been a pretty cloistered life so far for players and staff. NBA commissioner Adam Silver says league might not start next regular season until 2021. “I don’t want to create a process in which people are checking the boxes,” he said. Silver spoke about various topics but noted that he was optimistic that the 2021-22 would start on time. • Silver said that the push for this year’s All-Star Game should be judged once it’s over, rather than anticipating possible problems. Leonard will also be required to participate in cultural diversity training. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks with the media ahead of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. No guarantees, mind you. “We both agreed that as part of the process of looking at a new collective bargaining agreement, we should discuss that issue,” Silver said.        Vaccination sites The 2020–21 NBA season is the 75th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He explained the league’s rationale, too, as something beyond a one-night programming nod to broadcast partner TNT. “One of the things we’ve learned over the last year is that the mental stress [in the pandemic NBA] is incredibly tough on everyone involved,” Silver said. Halfway through the league’s second pandemic-challenged season, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday he can see a 2021-22 that looks, feels and plays a lot more like normal. The NBA has postponed 22 games in the first five weeks of the season. Something we’re watching for closely.”. The league had 171 games canceled last season because of the pandemic — one of the reasons for revenue projections being missed by about $1.5 billion — and this season will be at least 150 games below the usual total, with more significant financial losses certain. Glen said he never heard directly from him. “In some cases you have some younger officials, too, who maybe are still trying to calibrate their relationships with players.”.        Vaccine eligibility You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. “One thing we’ve all come to understand over the last year is that the virus is firmly in charge,” Silver said. The NBA is playing catchup after the 2019-20 season … But on the life-is-tough-all-round page, he said, leave room for the refs. • The announcement this week of the Overtime Elite League, in which high school-aged players (16 to 18) would get paid to play basketball and skip the traditional amateur routes revived talk about the NBA’s approach to preps-to-pros talent.        Charts This discussion has ended. According to a press release, the regular season is set to begin on Dec. 22 and each team will play 72 games.. Silver noted that many of the NBA’s international players turned pro as early as age 14. Silver addressed many other topics Saturday, including: Of the NBA’s 30 teams, seven have Black coaches, and the Minnesota Timberwolves were criticized by some last month for passing over assistant coach David Vanterpool, who is Black, and hiring Chris Finch to replace Ryan Saunders. Dec. 22, 2020 – Mar. Given all that might have gone wrong, the wellness of the personnel involved and the quality of competition has been remarkable. 4, 2021: First Half of regular season; 2021. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters at his annual All-Star Game Weekend press conference that he is "fairly optimistic" the 2021-22 season will start on time. Another simple factor: Empty or near-empty arenas might have made some harsh comments directed at an official easier for them to hear. KG just shared news about the sale of the Timberwolves. Yes, that is an opportunity for me to get directly involved, and I will.”. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com. Silver wants those as well, but doesn’t want them to simply exist and be hollow. 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The season will begin on September 9, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the home stadium of the Super Bowl LV Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Who is the most overrated athlete in Boston sports history? As for the international games that have been a big part the NBA’s basketball missionary work in past preseasons and regular season, well, that sounds like a 2022-23 thing for now. Adam Silver: NBA may return to normal in ’21-22, virus permitting The league is playing a 72-game season this year. NBA 2020-2021 schedule: season and playoffs NBA regular season action is set to begin on 22 December with top contenders for the 2021 … “It requires real engagement.”. The NBA has officially announced a new structure in format for the 2021-22 NBA regular season. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chaired a commission three years ago that recommended changing the rule, and has had discussions with Roberts and Silver about that topic. Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. Sign up to receive NBA emails!        Testing locations. Structure and format. Danny Ainge confirms Celtics will 'most likely' use trade exception in offseason, Rob Ninkovich has a specific quarterback in mind for the Patriots in 2021. Silver also said it’s not a prerequisite that players get vaccinated in order to achieve the league’s goal of having fans back in arenas like normal next season. The NBA, today (Nov. 18, IST), announced important aspects for the upcoming 2020-21 season - the 75th year of the league. All teams are scheduled to play 72 games instead of the customary 82, with only about half the league admitting any fans and those that have opened their doors doing so for just a small percentage of normal capacity. But their fractured relationship took another turn south with the post.        Daily #s “I credit the schedule makers who had the foresight to divide the season in two parts. A year ago at All-Star weekend in Chicago, about a month before the NBA’s decision on March 11, 2020, to suspend the season following the news that Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, Silver warned there was “a major national, if not global, health crisis” looming with regard to … I mean, that’s not anything that the health authorities have suggested to us,” Silver said. A playoff bubble similar to what we saw in Orlando last summer at the Disney World campus? “My sense is most will ultimately decide that it’s in their interest to get vaccinated.”. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season has been reduced to 72 games for each team, and began on December 22, 2020. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry combined to average 53.3 points per game during the 2018-19 season, the No. That Silver was addressing media via a Web link, the way all NBA coverage has been transacted this season, with reporters socially distanced by hundreds of miles from him and each other was an obvious reminder of where league protocols are at the moment. Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the potential lowering the NBA's age requirement. San Antonio will end the season with a run of four games in five days — the first two at Brooklyn and New York on May 12 and 13, followed by finales at home against Phoenix on May 15 and 16. “Last season and this season has required a significant investment on the part of the team owners,” Silver said. “Also, obviously here in the United States, we’ve been making excellent progress in terms of vaccinations. The NBA Play-In Tournament will include teams with the 7th through 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference. The NBA will be ready to start the 2020-21 season before Christmas. • Kevin Garnett, 2020 Hall of Fame inductee for his work mostly with the Timberwolves and Celtics, vented in an Instagram post this week about being snubbed in his desire to buy the Minnesota team from owner Glen Taylor. Silver’s news conference was virtual this season for the first time, done over Zoom — like virtually all other league business this year — because of the pandemic and the league’s protocols for health and safety. This year's NBA All-Star weekend, a celebration of the 2021 season, will start with a fitting ode to modern basketball history. “They accept that. It’s something that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed in a recent interview. The season will end with Super Bowl LVI , the league's championship game, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California , held on either February 6 or 13, 2022, depending on whether the regular season is expanded. Silver expressed optimism over the 2021-22 NBA season Saturday, saying he … I felt our protocols held up as well as we could have hoped. But as the present gives way to the future, the rate at which restrictions are loosening and immunity is being achieved suggests an NBA that will resemble what we all knew prior to March 2020.