(Reuters) – International matches will not be on the NBA table next season but it is hoped that back teams will play in near-full places in 2021-22 as the United States takes control the COVID-19 pandemic, commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday at his pre-All Star Game media conference.
With last year’s season held in quarantine bubbles in Orlando and the current campaign being played in mostly empty spaces, Silver said the resumption of international games will be on maintain them until at least the 2022-23 season.
“First, there are no plans yet to travel for next season,” Silver said, speaking ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. “It seems we will not be traveling internationally until next season.
“But the plan is still to try and restart our season as close to normal as possible next year.
“Honestly, I’m very optimistic at this stage that we can start on time, and that around half of our teams currently have fans.
“If vaccines continue as fast as they are, and if they continue to be as effective as they were against the virus and its various variants, we hope to have full-fledged areas next. season too. “
This season is expected to end in mid-July allowing players wishing to participate in the Olympics to travel to Tokyo.
Silver also noted that finishing in July will give players a chance to recover as the league looks to recover on a regular cycle.
While there are currently no plans to return to quarantine bubbles for the NBA playoffs, Silver said he could not rule out capacity.
“I will not rule anything out just because one thing we have all come to understand over the past year is that the virus is under strong control,” said Silver, adding that The league needs players to be vaccinated against COVID- 19. “We have to accept situations as they present themselves.
“I would say that for the first time in the last year I may be very optimistic at the moment as we see fans returning to our site.
“By the time we reach the playoffs in mid-May, things will be even much better than they are now. ”
Reporting with Steve Keating in Toronto; Edited by Christopher Cushing