:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69435374/1292783308.0.jpg)
The NBA has gone through a lot over the past two seasons, including the bubble in Orlando for the 2020 NBA Playoffs and shortened 2020-21 regular season. As a result, the League calendar has been altered and hasn’t been the same since 2018-19. The NBA announced on Thursday a return to a normal schedule, including the start of the 2021-22 regular season on October 19. Here’s a list of key dates heading into next season via Shams Charania, as announced by the NBA this afternoon.
Sources: Key dates for the 2021-22 NBA season:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 10, 2021
Sept. 28: Training camp starts
Oct. 19: Regular season starts
April 16: Playoffs start
June 2: Finals Game 1
June 19: Finals Game 7
June 23: 2022 NBA Draft
The 2021 NBA Playoffs are expected to run through the middle of July at the latest. The 2021 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, July 29 and free agency is expected to begin shortly after in the beginning of August. So the offseason will last around two months or so before training camp opens on Sept. 28 for the 2021-22 season. The 2022 NBA Playoffs will return to its normal start time in the middle of April with the Finals next season ending toward the end of June rather than July.