In a somewhat stunning Friday afternoon news drop, The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that the NBA is looking to kick off its 2020-21 season a mere two months from now:
The NBA is targeting Dec. 22 for the start of the 2020-21 season and a 72-game campaign that finishes before the ‘21 Olympics, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2020
Let us all channel our inner Keanu and exclaim: Whoa.
While a Christmas 2020 start date has been seen as ideal since the 2019-20 season resumed — it’s pretty much the unofficial kick-off of the season in a normal year anyway, since everyone is apparently watching football prior to that date — it seemed less and less likely as time, and the COVID-19 pandemic, has dragged on.