The NBA is tentatively planning on starting the 20-21 season on December 1st, but they are open to various alternative scenarios depending on what is available at that time and in the immediate subsequent months in regards to COVID-19. The NBA is believed to be considering delaying the start of the season to February or March if doing so would allow fans to attend games for a majority of the 82-game regular season.

"We are deep into the planning stages, but only to the extent that we have dozens of permutations as we look into next season," Adam Silver told Chris Mannix about plans for 20-21. "It’s certainly not bubble or bust. Our first and highest priority would be to find a way to have fans in our arenas. We’re continuing to look at all the different testing methods. We are current on vaccine developments and antivirals and other protocols around the possibility of bringing people together in arenas. We’re studying what colleges are doing as they look to bring thousands of students back on campus. We’re going to try to find the right balance between waiting as long as possible, so we have the best possible information at the time we’re making the decision, and recognizing that, at some point, we have to begin to lock in plans. We would like to find a way to play in front of fans, but it’s just too early to know how realistic this is.

"I have to say though, I would not bet against American ingenuity. Just because of how high-profile our experience in Orlando is right now, we are in conversation with dozens of testing companies. We’re studying all kinds of new, relatively inexpensive, rapid tests. The extent those tests are successful and coming to market, that will also open up more possibilities for us in bringing fans into arenas, even pre-vaccine."