MLK Day is the new target open date for the league, after having already pushed back from earlier soft targets of Dec. 1 and Dec. 25. Subjectively, I think this one has a better chance to stick. For starters, I’ve heard people in the league talking about a potential MLK date for a while, even as the “official” word was targeting December.

Source: John Hollinger of The Athletic

ANALYSIS: Targeting MLK Day as a start date for the 2020-21 season lines up with what Silver had been hinting at in the bubble. When the NBA first announced their plans for the restart in Orlando, there was speculation that Silver was targeting a Christmas start date for next season. Silver quickly realized this potential date would give very little time for players and teams to rest up, though.

Since then, Silver and the NBAPA have been targeting a January start date for next year and MLK Day falls on Monday, January 18.