Report: NBA tentatively schedules Finals to start Sept. 30
The NBA's 2019-20 postseason calendar is beginning to take shape.
The league is tentatively scheduling the Finals to begin Sept. 30, sources told Stadium's Shams Charania.
A number of other targeted playoff start dates were reportedly revealed in a call held by the NBPA on Monday:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 16-17 | Play-in tournament (if necessary) |
| Aug. 18 | First round of playoffs |
| Sept. 1 | Second round of playoffs |
| Sept. 15 | Conference finals |
On Thursday, the league announced it was targeting Oct. 12 to be the latest possible date for Game 7 of The Finals. This would suggest 13 days are considered enough time for a seven-game series with all teams isolated at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
For comparison's sake, the 2019 Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors began on May 30 and ended with Game 6 on June 13 - a total of 15 days - though the teams were given two full off days when traveling between Toronto and Oakland.
The NBA confirmed several other key dates Thursday, including a new schedule for the 2020 draft. The league also revealed it's targeting Dec. 1 to begin the 2020-21 campaign, though Charania reported Friday that the players' union considers that start date unlikely.