The NBA is officially going to Walt Disney World after the league’s players approved a 22-team restart plan on Friday.
On Thursday, the league laid out its plan for the resumption of action in a season suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all teams within six games of a playoff position invited to participate.
The players union responded Friday in a statement, “The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season. Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play.”
According to the NBA’s outlines, the 22 invited teams will each play eight regular-season games at the Walt Disney Resort near Orlando, Fla.
Playoffs would take place in August, with the NBA Finals set to be completed by October 12.
The league has also penciled in a provisional December 1 start date for the 2020-2021 season.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver cautioned on Thursday that the restart plan was still in its early stages. (Reuters/AFP)
