NBA Board of Governors approves format for season’s restart

Yesterday (4 June) the National Basketball Association's Board of Governors approved a competitive format for the restart of the 2019-20 season.

This marks the first formal step on the path to resuming play in the NBA, which has been suspended since March due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are working together to build a comprehensive plan for the return of the season. Both say they are working with infectious disease specialists, public health experts and government officials to establish a rigorous program to prevent and mitigate the risk related to Covid-19.

The proposed format would see 22 teams return with a tentative start date of Friday, July 31. The plan is contingent on an agreement with the Walt Disney Company, allowing use of Walt Disney World Resort, Florida as a single site for all games, practices, and housing for the rest of the season.

The returning teams would be the sixteen teams in current playoff positions (eight per conference), and the six teams that are currently six games or fewer behind the eighth seed in their respective conferences.

Read the full story on iGB North America.