The 2021-22 season will represent the 75th anniversary of the National Basketball Association, and with that historic season could possibly come sweeping changes to the NBA schedule and playoffs, including a 30-team, in-season tournament and reseeding the remaining four teams for the semi-finals in place of what is now the Conference Finals. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe:
In proposals that include the adoption of in-season tournaments and a postseason play-in, the traditional regular-season schedule would be reduced from 82 games — with most teams scheduled to play 78 or 79 games. There’s a small possibility of a team playing a maximum of 83 games based on possible tournament and play-in scenarios, league sources said.