When Does NBA Season Start? 2025-2026 Dates & Schedule

By Sarah Miller · December 1, 2029

The NBA basketball season typically starts in October. For the 2025-2026 season, the regular season is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, with a doubleheader featuring the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves.

When Does the NBA Season Start?

The NBA regular season generally tips off in mid to late October each year. The exact date varies slightly depending on scheduling, playoffs length, and international events like the Olympics. For fans planning ahead, the 2025-2026 NBA season will officially start on October 21, 2025.

Key Dates for the 2025-2026 NBA Season

Preseason: Begins around September 28, 2025
Regular Season Start: October 21, 2025
All-Star Break: February 13–15, 2026 (San Francisco host city)
Regular Season End: April 14, 2026
Play-In Tournament: April 15–18, 2026
NBA Playoffs: April 19, 2026
NBA Finals: June 4–21, 2026 (if necessary)

NBA Season Structure Explained

The NBA season is divided into several phases: preseason, regular season, play-in tournament, and postseason (playoffs). Each phase serves a distinct purpose in player preparation, team evaluation, and championship determination.

Preseason Games

Held in September and early October, the preseason allows teams to evaluate new players, test strategies, and build chemistry. These games do not count toward the final standings but are crucial for roster decisions.

Regular Season Format

Each of the 30 NBA teams plays 82 games—41 home and 41 away. The schedule includes divisional matchups (4 games against each), conference rivals (3 or 4 games), and inter-conference opponents (2 games).

Play-In Tournament

Introduced in 2020, the play-in tournament involves teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. The 7th and 8th seeds play for direct playoff entry, while the loser faces the winner of the 9th vs. 10th game for the final playoff spot.

NBA Playoffs and Finals

The top six teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. Combined with two play-in winners, this forms a 16-team knockout tournament using best-of-seven series. The NBA Finals usually conclude by mid-June.

Season	Regular Season Start	Regular Season End	Playoffs Start	Champion
2021-2022	October 19, 2021	April 10, 2022	April 16, 2022	Golden State Warriors
2022-2023	October 18, 2022	April 9, 2023	April 15, 2023	Denver Nuggets
2023-2024	October 24, 2023	April 14, 2024	April 20, 2024	Boston Celtics
2024-2025	October 22, 2024	April 13, 2025	April 19, 2025	TBD
2025-2026 (Projected)	October 21, 2025	April 14, 2026	April 19, 2026	TBD

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The table shows a consistent pattern: the NBA regular season begins in mid-to-late October and ends in mid-April. Over the past few seasons, start dates have varied between October 18 and October 24, indicating a trend toward earlier openers. The 2025-2026 season aligns with this pattern, starting on October 21.

How Scheduling Affects Teams and Players

The NBA schedule impacts player workload, injury risk, and team performance. Back-to-back games and long road trips are carefully monitored. The league has been reducing back-to-backs from an average of 20 per team in 2013 to around 14 in recent seasons to improve player health and game quality.

Factors Influencing the NBA Calendar

Olympic and FIBA competition years may shift the timeline
NBA All-Star Weekend location affects local logistics
Broadcast partnerships with ESPN, TNT, and ABC shape prime-time slots
Venue availability in major cities influences game dates

Frequently Asked Questions About the NBA Season Start

When does the 2025-2026 NBA regular season start?

The 2025-2026 NBA regular season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, with two marquee matchups: Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves.

How many games are in an NBA regular season?

Each NBA team plays 82 games during the regular season—41 at home and 41 on the road. This format has been standard since the 1967-68 season, providing balance and consistency across the league.

Do all NBA teams start the season on the same day?

No, not all teams play on opening day. Typically, only a few select teams participate in the opening night doubleheader. The rest of the league begins their season over the following week as the full schedule rolls out.

What is the NBA play-in tournament?

The NBA play-in tournament includes teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference after the regular season. It determines the final two playoff seeds through a mini-bracket format, adding excitement and competitiveness late in the season.

How can I watch the NBA season opener?

The NBA season opener is broadcast nationally in the U.S. on ESPN and ABC. International fans can stream games via NBA League Pass or local broadcasting partners such as Sky Sports (UK), TSN (Canada), and Stan Sport (Australia).