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The NBA will be back soon: the league announced a different structure to resume and finish the season Thursday.
Twenty-two teams will be involved and they’ll all play in Orlando at Disney World. Play will resume on July 31st and go through October 12th. The draft lottery is now scheduled for August 25th and the draft itself a mere three days after the last day of the playoffs, if the finals go that far. It’s going to be nuts for front office people.
The G-League season is over now too.
Among other things, this means the New Orleans Pelicans, with rising star Zion Williamson, could still make the playoffs. That would extend JJ Redick’s playoff streak - he’s never missed - and give the league a potential chance to showcase Williamson which they’d obviously want. He’s been a sensation despite only playing in a small number of games due to injury and certainly a fan favorite. And of course he’ll drive TV ratings as well.
- How Adam Silver, the NBA’s stars and owners negotiated these playoffs
- ‘Certain coaches’ could be sequestered when NBA resumes
- Chicago Bulls officially excluded from NBA’s 22-team bubble
- What NBA’s return plan means for Warriors’ lottery odds
- NCAA sets deadline to withdraw from NBA Draft
- Is the star power of Zion Williamson having an impact on the NBA restart?