A lot is still up for question with the future of the NBA as nothing is finalized. What could be decided in the near future could alter everything we know about not just the NBA, but all of the sports across the nation! 

The first big question is: what is going to happen to the rest of the 2020 NBA season and the playoffs? Although nothing is confirmed yet, it is likely that the rest of this basketball season will be canceled. For one, executives around the league and well-known doctors, including director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Anthony Fauci, are saying that it isn’t safe yet for all these players and coaches to return back to the courts, even if it doesn’t include any fans. As Fauci states, “If you can’t guarantee safety, then, unfortunately, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season’”. Not only is safety a concern, but revenue as well. According to one executive, “What [owners] are saying is, ‘If we return, where is the revenue that is going to justify the additional cost of returning”. With no fans being able to attend games, buy food, or buy team apparel, how will owners be able to make any profit? 

But with no more season, who will get crowned NBA Champions? Will there still be awards handed out to the players? All of this has been discussed and there are rumors that all of these awards will be given to the respective team and players without even playing any more games. As for the NBA finals, a new rule will state that the team with the best record this season up to this point will be crowned this year’s 2020 NBA Champions. If this were to come into effect with no other games played, that would mean this year’s NBA Champion would be the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently lead the league standings with a record of 53-12. As for the awards, this is where it gets tricky as it isn’t so straightforward. The results will be voted upon by a variety of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States like usual, but can only decide based on what has already happened this season and no further assumptions or predictions.

Not only could this be the end of the 2020 NBA season and playoffs, but it could delay the 2021 NBA season as well. In fact, on May 1st the league announced that it would be postponing the original dates of the NBA Draft Lottery and the NBA Draft Combine, but have yet to provide fans or teams with a new date. This is believed to have a ripple effect that not only could impact the 2021 NBA season, but seasons to come after as well. As of right now, the start of the 2021 NBA season has been rumored to not start until December!

Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, and/ the NBA board are doing all they can to try to figure everything out as soon as possible and will be providing constant updates for the time being.