NBA Finalizes Draft Lottery, Award Voting Dates
Jul 21, 2020, 4:05 PM | Updated: 4:18 pm
NBA Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA has finalized dates for the end of season awards, and the NBA draft lottery. The league continues to adjust its calendar dates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that suspended the season in March.
Voting for the end of season awards begins today (Tuesday) and runs through July 28. The league chose to close voting before the beginning of the eight final seeding games which beings on July 30.
NBA awards voting starts today and runs through July 28.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 21, 2020
“The decision to exclude seeding games from awards voting ensures a fair process in which players and coaches from all 30 NBA teams will have the same opportunity to be honored as top performers for the 2019-20 regular season,” said NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell.
Instead of the traditional end of season awards show, the winners will be announced on TNT during the NBA playoffs.
NBA Draft & Lottery Dates
The NBA draft lottery has been pushed forward from August 25 to August 20. The move will allow NBA teams nearly two months to prepare for the draft. The 2020 draft date is set for October 16.
The last day of the NBA season is Sunday, October 12 should the Finals require a full seven-game series.
Sources: NBA teams have been informed of new calendar date:
2020 Draft lottery: Aug. 20 — up from previous Aug. 25.
2020 Draft remains Oct. 16.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2020
The Utah Jazz own the 24th pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Like the end of season awards, the NBA’s draft order and lottery odds were finalized on March 11 when the season was suspended.
The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves each have a 14 percent chance of earning the draft’s top pick.
