NBAPA Executive Director Michele Roberts says the players and owners are close on a salary cap agreement but are apart on whether to start in December with a 72 game schedule or in mid January (file photo from clutchpoints.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

NBA owners and players are not on the same page when it comes to Opening Day for the 2020-2021 season. It is all about revenue. The league wants a 72-game schedule beginning around Christmas, the players want something around mid-January 2021.

There is also a possibility the the NBA would offer players a short 50-game regular season that could begin in January. According to the NBA they believe that starting in January, however, could cost $1 Billion in losses.

The NBA Finals ended on October 11, as the LA Lakers won the title in six (6) games over the Miami Heat. If the season starts around Christmas some believe that veterans players of teams who went deep into the Postseason might not be ready, that they need more rest.

Obviously, the Pandemic figures big in the equation. If the NBA has no guarantee that games will be again played in empty-arenas. That is what the owners are saying when they prefer to begin the season in December instead of January.

This looks like ‘Groundhog Day” in comparison to what Major League Baseball went through recently and could be up for again next season.. The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) also figures here. Depending what happens, players salaries could drop big time between the CBA 50-50 split between the NBA and the Players Union.

Some kind of agreement or decision on when to have the Tip Off for the season should be made soon.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com