According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, a December start date for the 2020-2021 NBA season is running late of schedule.

A recent meeting held by NBA executives birthed a proposal to start the 2020-21 campaign on December 22.

Meanwhile, players are against the December start date as they favor a January start, according to NBPA executive director Michele Roberts.

This has led to a negotiation between the league and NBA players on the start date and the schedule formats to be employed for the new session.

According to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, the league and players union are “running out of time” if the new season is to begin in December.

The NBA held a conference call with league GMs to update the latest developments, and it was revealed that Silver and the league office disclosed to the owners that the proposed Christmas window is almost closing.

The NBA’s current 72-game proposal includes a December 22 tip-off, with the league ready to give an eight-week notice before the new season starts.

With the NBA yet to give a notice for the start of a new season, the eight-week mark would stretch into late December, which will be passed the proposed December target start date.

Meanwhile, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts had revealed that players support a January tip-off instead of a Christmas start date.

However, there is a potentiality for training camps to begin at the start of December, while the NBA Board of Governors is also mulling the feasibility of a short free agency period.

The 2019-20 NBA season was completed in the Walt Disney bubble in Orlando, Florida, as Los Angeles Lakers lifted the title at the expense of the Miami Heat.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu