The NBPA ‘will not be rushed’ to make a decision on the start of the 2020/21 season, according to executive director Michele Roberts.
The NBA wants to tip off the new season on December 22, whereas the players are pushing for a January 18 start.
“The union and the players are analyzing all of the information and will not be rushed. We have requested and are receiving data from the parties involved and will work on a counterproposal as expeditiously as possible.
I have absolutely no reason to believe that we will have a decision by Friday. I cannot and will not view Friday as a drop dead date. Given all that has to be resolved between now and a Dec. 22 date, factoring that there will be financial risks by a later start date, it defies common sense that it can all be done in time.
Our players deserve the right to have some runway so that they can plan for a start that soon. The overwhelming response from the players that I have received to this proposal has been negative,” Roberts told Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The league is planning for a 72-game regular season in order to finish the season before the start of the Tokyo Olympics in July.
