The next NBA season could start as late as January. Also: A pair of young ESPNers are reportedly heading to Fox Sports; the NHRA is pushing back its restart to August and three potential dates have been set aside for the Preakness.
Report: Next NBA season could start in January
There is an increasing belief in NBA front offices that next season will have to start in January in order to ensure that fans can attend as many games as possible, The Ringer reported Friday. Previous reports indicated that the NBA is willing to push back the start of next season to December.
Per the same report, all options remain on the table for a resumption of the current season, including bringing back all 30 teams to complete the regular season, returning with a full NBA Playoffs, returning with a truncated NBA Playoffs, or outright cancellation. One option that is “highly unlikely” is a playoff play-in tournament akin to what the NHL is reportedly considering. [The Ringer 5.8]
ESPN’s Amin, Acho, reportedly leaving for Fox
ESPN play-by-play voice Adam Amin is departing to join Fox Sports, the New York Post reported Friday. Amin has been with ESPN since 2011 and most recently called college basketball, college football, NBA and Major League Baseball games, including serving as the lead voice of ESPN’s Women’s NCAA Tournament coverage. With Fox, he would work either the NFL or college football, in addition to MLB and some college basketball.
Per the same report, ESPN college football analyst Emmanuel Acho is also departing for Fox Sports, where he would serve as a co-host of First Things First. Former ESPNer Cris Carter was dismissed from that show last year. The Acho news was first reported by Outkick the Coverage. [NYP 5.9, Outkick 5.8]
NHRA pushes back restart, with fans, to August
The NHRA has pushed back its plans to restart its season until August. The drag racing series had originally planned to return in June, but because its return is contingent on fans being able to attend, that plan was no longer feasible. NASCAR is set to return a week from Sunday and IndyCar in less than a month, but both of those series plan to race in front of empty grandstands.
If it resumes, the season would run through November as originally planned. [Autoweek 5.6]
Three dates reportedly set aside for Preakness
Three potential dates have been set aside to contest The Preakness Stakes, according to the Associated Press, including one each in July, August and October. Baltimore’s NBC affiliate reported that the race would be rescheduled for October 3, just under a month after the rescheduled Kentucky Derby (September 5), but that has not been decided per the AP.
The Preakness was originally scheduled to run a week from Saturday. No dates have yet been determined for the Belmont Stakes, originally set to be run June 6. [AP News 5.6]
