The NBA reduces the season to allow players to participate in the Tokyo Olympics

 International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday that team owners and the NBA Players Association have agreed to shorten the season to allow the best league players to participate in the Tokyo Olympics next year.

"The owners of the NBA teams have agreed with the Players' Union on a short season that begins on December 22nd," Bach told a press conference.

"This will give the best basketball player a chance to participate in the Olympic Games in Tokyo," he added.

"This is what the players want. This is what the Olympic movement wants and what the National Olympic Committees very much want. It's excellent news."

The Tokyo Olympics had been scheduled for 2020 but was postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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