The 2020-21 NBA regular season is expected to start on Dec. 22, and now we have an idea when the preseason will begin.
The Athletic's Sham Charania reported Saturday, citing sources, that the NBA is targeting Dec. 11 through Dec. 19 for the preseason schedule.
Charania reported that teams can request to play three or four games, and all 30 teams must host at least one game at their home arena.
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SIGN UP HERE That means we are less than a month from potentially seeing the Warriors and Kings play basketball again, even if the games don't count.
The Warriors haven't played since March 10 -- more than eight months, while the Kings were part of the NBA restart in Orlando, Fla., and played in three scrimmages and eight regular-season games before being eliminated from playoff contention.
Both teams are heading into a pivotal week, with the 2020 NBA Draft taking place on Wednesday night and free agency opening Friday.
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The Warriors hold the No. 2 overall pick, and also have several assets at their disposal once free agency begins, so those three or four preseason games will be fans' first look at a team that has high expectations for the 2020-21 season.
A healthy Steph Curry and Klay Thompson will be flanked by Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. But who else will Bob Myers bring in to help them get back to the NBA Finals?
As for the Kings, they could look very different when that first preseason game tips off. New general manager Monte McNair has a lot of work to do this week. In addition to drafting a player with the No. 12 overall pick, he has to figure out if he's going to be able to retain restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic.
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Buddy Hield has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason, and he could be on the move, while fan favorite Harry Giles is a free agent and might not return to Sacramento.
Dec. 11, if that in fact is when the preseason starts, can't get here fast enough for fans.