Jared Dudley wants to extend the NBA season to 72-games

Jared Dudley wants the NBA to play a 72-game season for 2020-21 instead of the proposed 50-game slate which would reduce player salaries.

Lakers forward Jared Dudley has zero interest in playing a 50-game schedule for the 2020-21 NBA season.

It’s 72 games or nothing.

Dudley tweeted his opinion on Friday, pushing back against Mark Stein’s reporting about the league only offering a 50-game schedule if the new season begins in January.

The trouble with a 50-game schedule is what it will do to player salaries. A reduction of 22 games would reduce them.

Jared Dudley isn’t on board with the idea of only playing 50 games

The NBA and the players’ union are currently negotiating to decide when the 2020-21 season will begin. That’s where all the disagreement seems to be stemming from.

The league wants to start on Dec. 22, which would allow them to profit off of traditional Christmas Day TV slots.

The union wants a longer offseason, with a season beginning in mid-January, according to Stein.

An earlier start means more profit over the holidays. A later start means more time for players to rest and teams to prepare for a new season, while potentially opening opportunities for fans to return to the stands.

However, playing the full campaign after the January start would conflict with the league’s desire to be done with the season before the start of the Tokyo Olympics in late July.

Since money rules, it’s not hard to understand why the NBA is bowing to the will of their TV partners, who want to maximize their ratings draw.

To sum that all up, starting in December likely means a 72-game season. Starting in January likely means a 50-game season.

For players like Dudley, that would mean a sacrifice one way or another.