Adam Silver Says Next NBA Season May Not Start Until '21

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appeared today on CNN’s “Citizen” and said his "best guess" is the next season "won't start until '21." Silver said, "We said a week ago or so that the earliest we would start is Christmas of this year. But the more I’m learning, even listening to Dr. Fauci this morning, I continue to believe that we’re going to be better off getting into January." Silver noted the goal is to play a "standard season" and be able to "play games in home arenas in front of fans."

Meanwhile, Silver said of NBA players playing in the Tokyo Games during an NBA season, “It is a factor in our planning." He added, "It would be tough for us to make a decision in January based on the Olympics happening on schedule, when that's so unclear. I just add, there are a lot of great U.S. players and we may be up against the scenario where the top 15 NBA players aren’t competing in the Olympics, but other great American players are competing” (“Citizen,” CNN, 9/21).