NBA is considering several proposals that, if approved, could be in place by the 2020-21 season:
- Reduce the regular season from 82 to 78 games
- Implementing a "play-in tournament" for the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference for the playoffs, essentially giving seeds #9 and #10 a chance to make the playoffs
- Re-seeding the final four playoff teams to get the two best teams to the NBA Finals
- Implementing an in-season tournament that includes a $1 million bonus for every player on the winning team and a $1.5 million bonus pool for the winning coaching staff. The tournament would be played in November and December with an eight-game home-and-home round robin against opponents within each division. The six division winners plus two wildcards with the next best record would advance to the quarterfinals, with four games at team arenas. The semifinals and finals of the single-elimination tournament would be played at a neutral site. The NBA is also trying to create incentives for teams and fans. One popular idea is an additional draft pick awarded to the winning team of the in-season tournament.
- Reduce the regular season from 82 to 78 games
- Implementing a "play-in tournament" for the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference for the playoffs, essentially giving seeds #9 and #10 a chance to make the playoffs
- Re-seeding the final four playoff teams to get the two best teams to the NBA Finals
- Implementing an in-season tournament that includes a $1 million bonus for every player on the winning team and a $1.5 million bonus pool for the winning coaching staff. The tournament would be played in November and December with an eight-game home-and-home round robin against opponents within each division. The six division winners plus two wildcards with the next best record would advance to the quarterfinals, with four games at team arenas. The semifinals and finals of the single-elimination tournament would be played at a neutral site. The NBA is also trying to create incentives for teams and fans. One popular idea is an additional draft pick awarded to the winning team of the in-season tournament.
