NBA News: 78-Game Season, Mid-season Break & Other Changes Proposed in the League

The National Basketball Association (NBA) could see a few changes for the league in the upcoming season. The NBA has sent a proposal to teams calling for a 78-game regular season,instead of the current 82-game format. The upcoming season could also give the ninth and the 10th placed teams in the Conference to make it to the play-offs with them being involved in another qualifying round. Reports also suggest that the Champions could get a $1 million per player purse.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that as per the NBA’s plans, the teams in seventh through 10th place in the regular-season standings would play off as follows: The seventh- and eighth-place teams would play with the winner clinching the No. 7 playoff seed. The teams holding the ninth- and 10th-place regular season spots would also play, and the winner of that game would play the loser of the 7-8 game to determine the No. 8 playoff seed.

The changes, if made, will be on a trail basis for the 2021-22 season, with an option to continue the next season. The league’s board of governors is expected to discuss and likely decide whether to go forward or not with the plan in April.

Another notable proposed change is the mid-season break that has been in talks for a few seasons now. The regular season would end on a Saturday, one week before the start of the playoffs — as opposed to ending on Wednesday, as has been the case for years.

The prospect of a mid-season break seemed to be nearing after the constant talks.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had also hinted about it earlier this year when he said that it would be discussed with the players’ association.

“It would need to be negotiated with the Players Association,” Silver had said. “I’ve had very general discussions with (union executive director) Michele Roberts about the notion that these are the kinds of things we’re looking at. I think she, of course, is supportive of looking at any ideas we have to build the business over time.”