Things you need to know about the 2020-21 NBA season

Here are some common questions and answers about the format, rules, scheduling, structure, and health protocols of the 2020-21 NBA season.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced on Nov. 9 that they’ve struck a deal on rules for the 2020-21 NBA season, which will start on Dec. 22. On November 10, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2020-21 by a unanimous vote, allowing the 2020-21 season to begin. The NBA announced the 2020-21 season structure and format, including a playoff Play-In Tournament on Nov. 17.

In anticipation of the new NBA season, here are some common questions and answers about the 2020-21 NBA season.

Q: When does the 2020-21 NBA season begin and end?

Dec. 22 is the start date. The end of the 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled for May 16.

Q: When did training camps open? When was the preseason?

Individual player workouts ran from Dec. 1-5 with Media “Week” taking place during the same time frame. Group player workouts went from Dec. 6-10 and the preseason ran from Dec. 11-19. In the preseason, each team played a minimum of two and a maximum of four games as part of the NBA’s 49-game preseason schedule. The game schedule for the 2020 preseason is available here.

Q: How many games will each team play in the 2020-21 NBA season

Each team will play 72 regular-season games, which is 10 games fewer than in a typical, 82-game NBA season.

Q: What does the 2020-21 schedule look like?

The schedule will be released in two segments, with the First Half of the schedule coming around the start of training camp and the Second Half of the schedule coming out during the latter part of the First Half. For now, the plan is for each team to play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total), and two against each interconference opponent (30 games).

Q: How will the Play-In Tournament be structured?

The Play-In Tournament, which will take place after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs, will include the teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference. For further information on the Play-In Tournament, click here.

Q: What are the Key Dates for the 2020-21 NBA season?

• Dec. 1-5: Individual player workouts and Media “Week”
• Dec. 6-10: Group player workouts begin• Dec. 11-19: Preseason games
• Dec. 22 – March 4: First Half of regular season
• March 5-9: All-Star break
• March 10-May 16: Second Half of regular season
• March 25: NBA Trade Deadline
• May 13-15: Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Enshrinement
• May 18-21: Play-In Tournament
• May 22-July 22: 2021 NBA Playoffs

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