The NBA is on track to return in late December, only a little over two months after the 2019-20 Finals wrapped up.
The Dec. 22 start date, agreed upon by the players association on Thursday after it was proposed by the league, is set to arrive just 71 days after the conclusion of the Heat-Lakers series, which was won by Los Angeles.
The 10-week layoff marks the shortest offseason of any of the major professional sports leagues in recent history, ESPN reported.
The next-shortest breaks, all belonging to the NHL, came because of lockouts and strikes.
The shortest NBA offseason prior to the current one was 127 days, the Worldwide Leader said.
At least one player -- perhaps the most notable one -- voiced his dissatisfaction with the brief rest period.
League icon LeBron James took to social media to register his disapproval with the all-telling "facepalm" emoji.
Many players had reportedly resisted starting the 2020-21 campaign after such a brief offseason, but the date was apparently agreed upon amid concerns over revenue shortfalls, which ultimately impacts pay for both owners and players. Some teams haven't played since March, meaning their players haven't been paid since then.
The NBA playoffs typically wrap up in June, with the next season tipping off in late October.
The 2019-20 season was paused for several months beginning on March 11 due to the coronavirus crisis. Play resumed in late July, when the season would normally have been long over, necessitating an adjustment for the 2020-21 campaign.
The upcoming season was condensed to 72 games from the customary 82 to account for the lost time.