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RUMOR STATUS
Disney and the NBA have reached an agreement where the NBA would play out the remainder of their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Players and staff would likely stay at the following resorts:
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Gran Destino Tower): Bucks, Lakers, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, Heat
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa: Thunder, 76ers, Rockets, Pacers, Mavericks, Nets, Grizzlies, Magic
- Disney’s Yacht Club: Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns, Wizards
The games would be televised but fans will not be admitted.
- The league would invite 22 teams (13 Western Conference, 9 Eastern Conference)
- Each team would play 8 regular season games
- There would be a double elimination play-in format for the 8th seeds
- The season+playoffs would run from July 31 – October 12th
- Practices would begin July 9-11th
RUMOR TIMELINE
June 16, 2020: @ShamsCharina on Twitter reported the following:
Sources: NBA teams Disney hotels based on seeding:
-Grand Destino: Bucks, Lakers, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, Heat
-Grand Floridian: Thunder, 76ers, Rockets, Pacers, Mavericks, Nets, Grizzlies, Magic
-Yacht Club: Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns, Wizards— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
NBA players‘ game day schedule in the Orlando bubble for 2019-20 season resumption, as @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium has obtained: pic.twitter.com/6nHik0R9aN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
June 4, 2020: The NBA owners voted in favor (29-1) to play the remainder of the season at Walt Disney World Resort.
June 3, 2020: Per @wojespn on Twitter, the NBA would bring 22 teams to Orlando with a short 8 game regular season, a play in game for the #8 seed and a season+playoffs that will run from July 31 – October 12th. The vote for this will be 12:30 PM on June 4, 2020.
So the NBA's inviting 22 teams to Orlando: 13 Western Conference, 9 Eastern Conference. Eight-regular season games per team. Play-in for the 8th seeds. July 31-October 12. Vote tomorrow to ratify.
The NBA's back.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020
June 3, 2020: Per @KeithSmithNBA, on Twitter, Disney is expected to set aside at least 2000 hotel rooms for the NBA.
Per Disney sources, Walt Disney World is preparing to have at least 2000 rooms available for the NBA. That number is based on roughly 70 people per team x 22 teams + extras. Per team # is potentially a bit high, but covers for additional non-team personnel (ie. media) if allowed.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 3, 2020
June 2, 2020: Per @KeithSmithNBA on Twitter, Disney and the NBA are expected to reach an agreement later this week where the NBA would play out the remainder of their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Players and staff would likely stay at Disney’s Coronado Beach Resort.
The games would be televised but fans will not be admitted.
Per Walt Disney World sources, Disney and the NBA have agreed that Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is likely to be the primary host resort for the NBA when they resume the season. Sources say an agreement may be reached this week, which will allow preparations to move quickly.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 2, 2020
April 17, 2020: Keith Smith of YahooSports.com posted an article suggesting that the NBA finish their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.
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