NBA: Players OK league negotiations on 22-team return-to-play plan

[June 06, 2020]    NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) agreed to further talks with the NBA on a proposed 22-team return-to-play format on Friday, another step towards resuming a season upended by the coronavirus outbreak.

The NBA logo is displayed as people pass by the NBA Store in New York City, U.S., October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

"Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play," the NBPA said.

The NBA's Board of Governors approved a plan on Thursday to restart the season, with a tentative July 31 target date, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Under the proposal, the 22 teams play eight seeding games to determine a 16-team playoff field that would follow the traditional post-season format with four best-of-seven series.

(Reporting By Amy Tennery; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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