NBA to cut season to allow players to compete in Tokyo–IOC

FILE PHOTO: The Olympic rings are pictured in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

BERLIN — Team owners and the NBA players’ association have agreed on a shortened season to allow players from the world’s best league to compete in next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday.

“The owners of NBA teams have agreed with the players’ association on an early and shortened NBA season starting on Dec. 22,” Bach told a news conference.

“This will allow the best basketball players to play at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“This is what the players want. This is what the movement wants and may National Olympic Committees want very much. It is excellent news.”

The Tokyo Games were due to be held in 2020 but were postponed to start in July 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.