What’s new for the 2020-21 NBA season during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic? A shorter season, a new play-in tournament in each conference for the playoffs and a couple of rules changes. 72-game seasonThe COVID-19 pandemic led to the longest season in NBA history for 2019-20, finishing Oct. 11. The NBA and its players’ union agreed to a 72-game season for 2020-21, 10 less than usual, beginning Dec. 22 and ending July 22 if there is a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. That allows two things: NBA players to compete in the delayed Tokyo Olympics and the league to move to its usual calendar for the 2021-22 season.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 22, 2020 15:56 UTC