When Is NBA Basketball Season 2025? Dates & Schedule

By Sarah Miller · December 28, 2052

The NBA basketball season for 2025 runs from October 22, 2024, to April 13, 2025, for the regular season, followed by the playoffs starting April 19, 2025, and concluding with the NBA Finals in June 2025.

When Is the NBA Basketball Season?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) follows a consistent annual schedule, with the regular season typically beginning in mid-to-late October and ending in mid-April. The 2024–2025 NBA season marks the league's 79th season, featuring 30 teams split evenly between the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Key Dates for the 2024–2025 NBA Season

Regular Season Start: October 22, 2024
Regular Season End: April 13, 2025
Play-In Tournament: April 15–18, 2025
NBA Playoffs Start: April 19, 2025
NBA Finals: June 5–22, 2025 (tentative)
All-Star Weekend: February 14–16, 2025 (San Francisco)

NBA Season Structure Explained

The NBA season is divided into three main phases: the preseason, regular season, and postseason (playoffs). Each phase serves a distinct purpose in player preparation, team competition, and championship determination.

Preseason (September–October)

Held in the weeks before the regular season, the preseason allows teams to evaluate new players, test strategies, and build chemistry. Teams usually play 4–6 exhibition games.

Regular Season (October–April)

Each of the 30 NBA teams plays 82 games—41 home and 41 away. Games are distributed across intra-conference (52 games) and inter-conference (30 games) matchups based on a fixed scheduling formula.

Postseason and Playoffs (April–June)

After the regular season, the top eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs through a combination of direct seeding and the play-in tournament. The playoffs follow a best-of-seven elimination format across four rounds: First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.

Season Phase	Duration	Number of Games	Teams Involved
Preseason	Sep 30 – Oct 21, 2024	4–6 per team	All 30 teams
Regular Season	Oct 22, 2024 – Apr 13, 2025	82 per team	All 30 teams
Play-In Tournament	Apr 15–18, 2025	4 total games	8 teams (top 10 per conference)
NBA Playoffs	Apr 19 – Jun 22, 2025	Up to 28 per team	16 teams (8 per conference)

Table data source:1, 2

The table highlights the structured progression of the NBA season, emphasizing the increasing competitiveness from exhibition games to high-stakes playoff matchups. The inclusion of the play-in tournament since 2020 adds urgency to late-season games, especially for teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. This format increases fan engagement and rewards regular-season performance while allowing for last-chance qualification.

How NBA Scheduling Works

The NBA uses a balanced scheduling formula to ensure fairness while maintaining regional and historical rivalries. Each team’s 82-game slate includes:

Four games against each of the 4 teams in its division (16 games)
Four games against 6 out-of-division teams in its conference (24 games)
Three games against the remaining 2 out-of-division teams in its conference (6 games)
Two games against each of the 15 teams in the opposite conference (30 games)
One additional game against select inter-conference opponents, rotating annually (6 games)

This system ensures geographic balance and maintains national broadcast appeal through marquee inter-conference matchups.

Frequently Asked Questions About the NBA Basketball Season

When does the 2024–2025 NBA regular season start?

The 2024–2025 NBA regular season begins on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, with a doubleheader featuring the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks.

When do NBA playoffs begin in 2025?

The 2025 NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19, 2025, immediately following the conclusion of the play-in tournament.

How long is the NBA season?

The NBA season spans approximately eight months, starting in October and ending in June. The regular season lasts about six months (82 games), followed by nearly two months of postseason play for teams that reach the NBA Finals.

What is the NBA play-in tournament?

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

Where can I watch the NBA season?

The NBA is broadcast nationally in the U.S. on networks like ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. Internationally, games are available via local broadcasters and the NBA League Pass streaming service. Many platforms also offer live streaming options with authenticated subscriptions.