Q: When does the 2020-21 season begin and end?
Dec. 22 is the start date. The end of the 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled for May 16.
Q: How many games will each team play in 2020-21?
Each team will play 72 games, which is 10 games fewer than in a typical, 82-game NBA season.
Q: What will the 2020-21 schedule look like?
The schedule will be released in two segments, with the First Half of the schedule coming around the start of training camp and the Second Half of the schedule coming out during the latter part of the First Half. For now, the plan is for each team to play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total), and two against each interconference opponent (30 games).
Q: How will the Play-In Tournament be structured?
The Play-In Tournament will include the teams with the 7th-highest through the 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference.
At the conclusion of the regular season but before the first round of the playoffs, the team with the 7th-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the 8th-highest winning percentage in a Play-In Game (the “Seven-Eight Game”). The winner of the Seven-Eight Game in each conference will earn the No. 7 seed.
The team with the 9th-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the 10th-highest winning percentage in the “Nine-Ten Game”. The loser of the Seven-Eight Game will host the winner of the Nine-Ten Game in a Play-In Game, and the winner of that game in each conference will earn the No. 8 seed.
Q: What are the Key Dates for the 2020-21 season?
• Dec. 11-19: Preseason games
• Dec. 22 – March 4: First Half of regular season
• March 5-10: All-Star break
• March 11-May 16: Second Half of regular season
• May 18-21: Play-In Tournament
• May 22-July 22: 2021 NBA Playoffs
Q: How is the salary cap affected for 2020-21?
The salary cap and tax level will remain unchanged. The cap was $109.14 million this past season, with the tax level at $132,627,000. In subsequent seasons of the CBA, the salary cap and tax level will increase by a minimum of 3% and a maximum of 10% over the prior season. Teams’ tax payments will be reduced in proportion to any basketball-related income decreases.
Q: How will the 2020-21 season affect basketball-related income (BRI)?
A new system will be used to ensure the parties’ agreed-upon split of basketball-related income (BRI). In the event player compensation were to exceed the players’ designated share in any season, necessary salary reductions beyond the standard 10% escrow would be spread across that season and potentially the following two seasons, subject to a maximum salary reduction in any season of 20%.
Q: Will Toronto play any games in Canada this season?
The Raptors will begin the 2020-21 season in Tampa, Fla. As to whether or not that lasts all season remains to be seen.
Q: Will fans be in attendance for games in 2020-21?
Details on fan attendance for 2020-21 will be released at a future date.