When the National Basketball Players Association issued a statement just ahead of midnight Thursday announcing a tentative approval of the start date and schedule for the upcoming season it felt like a major step forward had been taken.
But perhaps it was the second sentence in the brief press release that really mattered. It read, "Additional details remain to be negotiated and the NBPA is confident that the parties will reach agreement on these remaining issues relevant to the upcoming season."
While the Dec. 22 start to the season and the beginning of training camp just three weeks from now seem ambitious, it might pale in comparison to what faces the NBA and the NBPA in trying to construct a season outside of the bubble.