Since March, the NBA season has been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After Rudy Gobert tested positive for the disease, a game featuring the Jazz was abandoned, followed shortly by the rest of the season.
Now, ahead of a call featuring the NBA’s Board of Government, a 22-team tournament-esque format was approved. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news via Twitter on Thursday. He also divulged the final tally of the vote.
The remainder of the NBA season will be played at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. The teams featured in the remainder of the season will be the 16 teams that are currently in the playoffs if the season ended today, plus six more that are within six games of a playoff berth.
Eight games will be played by each team to round out the regular season to finalize the playoff bracket. If a player tests positive for the coronavirus, they will be quarantined and removed from all contact with the team. Daily tests for all players will take place. No fans will be allowed to attend the games in person.
A potential Game 7 of the NBA Finals would take place on October 12. The start date for the 22-team tournament format will be July 31.
Featured Image courtesy of NBA
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