INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers and 21 other NBA teams appear ready to resume the season that was suspended in March over COVID-19 concerns.
One day after owners approved a plan for 22 teams to play at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, NBA players gave their blessing.
Here is a statement from the player's association:
"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."
The teams with the 22 best records when the season was suspended in March will go to Orlando. That includes the Pacers who are 39-26 and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
The Disney World site has enough basketball courts and hotel rooms to host the 22 teams, although there will be no fans.
All 22 teams will play eight games to determine playoff seeding. The playoffs would follow, with the season ending in late-September or October. The schedule would likely push back the start of the 2020-21 season, which would normally begin in mid-October, to December.
Indianapolis is the site of 2021 NBA All-Star game. With the later start to the season, it's not clear if February 14, 2021 will remain the game's scheduled date.
