We're on the verge of witnessing a historical season. For better or worse, the fact that the NBA had to push forward the 2020/21 NBA season so much is definitely going to take a toll on the outcome of games, at least early on.
The 2020/21 NBA season will be one of a kind and the league is likely to test the waters about multiple changes that could be implemented later on depending on how they fare throughout the year.
But why is this season giong to be so unique? What makes it so different from the others? And what are the key dates we should all mark in our calendars? We'll break it down for you in the following paragraphs.
2020/21 NBA Season Format
The 2020/21 NBA season will feature the same Conference format as usual. Both the Eastern and Western Conference will feature 15 teams and the top-8 seeded teams from each conference will make the playoffs.
This time, nonetheless, the regular season will have just 72 games instead of 82 in order to finish earlier and readjust the schedule for the upcoming campaign and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Also, the league will feature a play-in tournament for the final two seeds of each conference. The 7th and 8th seed will play for the 7th spot, while the 9th and 10th seed will play for the right to play the loser of the other game to try and win the final postseason ticket.
2020/21 NBA Season Schedule
Barring any major setbacks, rescheduling, or Covid-19 outbreaks, the 2020/21 season will run from December 22, 2020, through July 21st, 2021, assuming the NBA Finals go to a full seven game.
2020/21 NBA Season Key Dates
The 2020/21 NBA regular season will go from December 22, 2020 through May 16, 2021. Then, the play-in tournament will take place from May 18-21, 2021, and the playoffs will go from May 22 until June 6, 2021. Last, but not least, the NBA Finals will go from July 8 to July 22, 2021 (if needed).
How To Watch Or Live Stream 2020/21 NBA Season In The U.S
The 2020/21 NBA season will be streamed in the U.S on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV, plus multiple local affiliates. Also, fans can subscribe to NBA Pass to watch the entire season or just their preferred team's games.
