NBA eyeing Dec. 22 to start season
A person with knowledge of the situation says the NBA’s board of governors is considering a December start to the 2020-21 season, with Dec. 22 being the initial target for opening night and the season being trimmed to about 70 games.
That option, whichwould have the NBA Finals back in their normal June slot, was one of many options discussed by the league’s owners Friday, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no details were revealed publicly.
No decisions have been finalized and talks with the National Basketball Players Association remain ongoing on many matters, including the financial parameters that will be in place next season. Those talks, especially on the money issue, would have to be concluded before any real decisions about next season are made.
Itwould mean that the offseason for the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat would be almost absurdly short, since a Dec. 22 start date would mean teams would likely be starting training camps around the end of November. This season’s NBA Finals ended on Oct. 11.
Typically, a mid-June end to the finals is followed by about a 31⁄ 2- month break before the following training camp.
College: Arizona has received a formal notice of allegations from the NCAA stemming from a federal investigation into shady recruiting practices three years ago. The university acknowledged in a statement Friday it had received the notice. “However, in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing enforcement process, the University is not releasing the NOA at this time,” the university said. The school has 90 days to respond. The NCAA then has 60 days to respond to the school’s reply before a hearing will be set with the Committee on Infractions. Arizona had been in the NCAA’s crosshairs since 2017, when assistant coach Emanuel Richardson was among 10 people arrested as part of a federal corruption investigation into college basketball. Richardson was fired by the university and later pleaded guilty to accepting $20,000 in bribes from aspiring business manager Christian Dawkins. He was sentenced to a three-month prison sentence in 2019. Arizona coach Sean
Miller faced allegations in two federal trials following the FBI investigation. “I’m not going to comment on anything that is around any investigation. That’s what I’m called to do as a member of our athletic departments, so I’m unable to comment,” Miller said.
Golf: Ally McDonald shot a 4-under 68 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend in the LPGA Drive On Championship-Reynolds Oconee. The 27year-old from Mississippi made five straight birdies in the middle of the round, then gave back two strokes with bogeys on the par-4 fifth and par-5 sixth.
NFL: The Saints will be without their top receivers Sunday against the Panthers. Michael Thomas has been ruled out with a new hamstring injury in addition to his pre-existing ankle injury. And Emmanuel Sanders will miss the game after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. ... The Washington Football team fined quarterback Dwayne Haskins for violating the team’s COVID-19 protocols, according to ESPN. Haskins made a reservation for a family friend at the team hotel the night before Washington played the Giants last week. The team fined him $4,833 — the maximum it could have fined him was $14,650. According to ESPN, another source said Haskins had made a reservation for this person, but it was caught before the person arrived, so there was never any contact. ... The Cardinals traded a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft to the Giants for line backer Markus Golden, who started his career with the Cardinals. ... The 49ers will be without their two starting safeties Sunday against the Patriots. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt and free safety Jimmie Ward were officially ruled out Friday afternoon. Tartt has been dealing with a groin injury and did not practice all week. According to coach Kyle Shanahan, Ward strained his quadriceps in Thursday’s practice. ... Antonio Brown will visit the Buccaneers on Saturday and the sides are working toward an agreement on a contract, ESPN reports. Both sides want to complete a deal that would reunite Brown with quarterback Tom Brady.
Soccer: Aston Villa’s perfect start to the English Premier League was ended by Leeds 3-0 on Friday. Villa had never won its opening five league games.