The NBA has officially informed teams regarding the key dates for next season, including the draft, the start of the season and more. After the abnormal start to the 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19, the league is set to return to its normal schedule next year.

NBA Training Camp: September 28th

The first big date of the new season, NBA training camp, will kick off on September 28th. With last seasons opening camp taking place in the last week of November, getting back on track will be a little different for the players, coaches, and staff.

This year’s NBA Finals are set to take place on July 8, and finish off July 22nd (if necessary). This will give the players 69 days (nice) to prepare for the upcoming season. With hopes of a Sixers championship coming soon, this information could end up being extremely relevant to the team.

Regular Season Opening Night: October 19th

One of the best days of the year, NBA opening night with your best teams squaring off on prime-time television. The typical NBA Opening Night features the defending champs kicking off the season at home, where their championship banner gets raised into the rafters.

Defending champions are 58-16 on opening night, a heavy favorite year after year. The adrenaline of seeing your championship banner lifted up, with your fans seeing real action since the championship was won, has to be one of the greatest feelings in the world. The Sixers will look to experience that feeling again for the first time since 1983.

NBA Playoffs: April 16th

After four straight years of Sixers playoff basketball, a fifth playoff run will hopefully be starting on April 16th. With no decision on the future of the play-in tournament, this date is sort of up in the air. There has been mixed feeling around the league regarding the play-in tournament, with a technical 20 teams getting a shot at the Larry O’Brien.

It doesn’t seem like the play-in is going anywhere, but who knows these days with the NBA. Whether April 16th is the start of the play in tournament, or the start of the true playoffs, that date is one to look out for in the future.

Start of the NBA Finals: June 19th

The NBA Finals, one of the greatest two weeks of the whole year. The best two teams square off in an electric seven game series. The current season’s finals are set to start July 8th, with a potential game 7 on July 22nd. The month difference in scheduling will be one of the bigger changes for teams in the upcoming season.

With the Sixers in the prime of their championship run, all signs point to this date being significant for the team. With high hopes this year, and all of the same hopes going into next season, have this date circled on your calendar.

2022 NBA Draft: June 23rd

The 2022 NBA Draft is officially announced to take place on June 23rd. The Sixers will be picking towards the end of this years draft, with where they are currently sitting. Tied 1-1 with Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Semis, and being the better team, the Sixers are expected to be one of the four teams remaining. With Daryl Morey as President of Basketball Operations, draft night is always set to be a special one.

With Tyrese Maxey being just one example above, every team has a goal of drafting the best talent and fit for their respective team possible. Morey came in here after one year and assembled a championship potential roster, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will do that again on June 23rd.

With the NBA officially releasing their big named dates and events for the upcoming season, teams are already starting to prepare. After a tough year due to COVID-19, the NBA did almost all they could to make this season feel as realistic as possible. As restrictions are being lifted, basketball returns to its normal structure for the 2021-2022 season.

But next season means nothing til we reach the end goal of this season. The Sixers look to draw closer to that goal as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks tonight at 7:30 for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia 76ers