The wait is over. Or, at least it will be soon.
The National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday that it has voted to tentatively approve the NBA's proposal for a 72-game 2020-21 season that will begin on Dec. 22.
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The Athletic's Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news Thursday.
The NBA Board of Governors and Players Association held separate meetings Thursday.
Coming off what has been a historically long offseason for numerous teams, the Dec. 22 start date will bookend a hectic month leading up to the beginning of the season. The 2020 NBA Draft will be held as scheduled on Nov. 18, with free agency and training camps opening on Dec. 1.
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That obviously doesn't leave much time for teams to build out their rosters, but the league believes the quick turnaround is essential in order to finish the season before the Summer Olympics begin in mid-July.
The NBA plans to start the season without fans in arenas due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be seen if they'll be allowed to attend games at any point during the season.
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