The NBA is back

The world is itching for sports, and we may just be getting ready to have it.

The NBA has been working on a plan to restart the 2019-2020 season that was put on hold due to the current pandemic. On Wednesday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that a 22-team format in Orlando was the likely scenario for the NBA’s return. He also reported that the timeline would range from July 31st to October 12th being the final day possible for Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Then on Thursday, Woj reported that the league’s Board of Governor’s approved the plan, so the NBA is officially back.

Under this plan, the top 16 teams in the Eastern and Western conferences will be joined by teams currently within six games of eighth place in the two conferences — New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento, Phoenix and Washington. The plan is for them to play eight regular-season games, and it could include a play-in game for the 8th seeds in each conference if the 8th and 9th seeds are within four games of each other when the regular season concludes.

With this format, we will get to a host of former Kentucky Wildcats either in the playoffs or competing for postseason spots, including Devin Booker, De’Aaron Fox, Anthony Davis, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro among others.

Shams Charania has some more details on other key NBA dates:

It will also be interesting that the NBA playoffs and potentially NFL, MLB and college football seasons will be happening at the same time, making this arguably the most loaded fall slate of sports ever seen.

The league has also reportedly set dates for the NBA Draft Lottery and actual draft.

Buckle up, fans. The sports roller coaster is starting.