Kristian Ferrell
The NBA playoffs are an exciting time for basketball fans, with the 2025 playoffs set to start on April 19, just days after the regular season ends on April 13. The NBA Play-In Tournament will take place from April 15-18, with teams ranked 7th-10th in each conference battling it out for the final two playoff spots. The NBA Finals, presented by YouTube TV, will begin on June 5, 2025, with sixteen teams making it to the playoffs, eight from each of the two conferences. The previous year, the 2024 NBA playoffs began on April 20, with the Boston Celtics taking the championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first round of the NBA Playoffs in 2025 | April 19 |
| Date of the 2025 NBA Finals | June 5, 2025 |
| Number of rounds in the NBA Playoffs | 4 |
| Number of teams from each conference that automatically advance to the Playoffs | 6 |
| Teams finishing from each conference that compete in the play-in tournament | 7 through 10 |
| Date of the 2024 NBA Finals | Not specified |
| Champion of the 2024 NBA Finals | Celtics |
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What You'll Learn
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The NBA playoffs are an annual elimination tournament held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to determine the league champion. The tournament is held after the NBA's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament.
The NBA playoffs are a four-round, best-of-seven tournament. Six teams from each of the two conferences automatically advance to the playoffs based on regular-season winning percentages. Meanwhile, teams finishing seven through ten from each conference compete in the play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff seeds.
The start date of the NBA playoffs varies each year, depending on the NBA's regular season schedule. For example, the 2024 NBA Finals were presented by YouTube TV, and the 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 15-18, with the first round of the NBA Playoffs starting on April 19. The 2017-18 NBA season started on October 17, 2017, and the playoffs began on April 14, 2018, ending on June 8.
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How are the teams selected?
The NBA Playoffs is an annual elimination tournament held after the league's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament. The tournament features 16 teams in total, with eight teams from each of the NBA's two conferences (East and West).
The six teams with the most wins from each conference progress directly to the playoffs. The remaining four spots are determined through a play-in tournament, which features the teams ranked seventh to 10th in each conference. The seventh and eighth-placed teams play each other, with the winner earning the seventh seed, while the ninth and tenth-placed teams compete, with the loser being eliminated. The winner of this game then plays the loser of the seven-eight game to determine who earns the eighth playoff seed.
In each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the number one seed, while the team with the worst record receives the number six seed. If there is a tie, the head-to-head record is used to determine which team gets the higher seed. If this is also level, then the higher seed goes to the team that is a divisional champion. The third tie-breaker is the win-loss record against other teams in their division, and the final tie-breaker is the win-loss percentage against conference teams.
The NBA play-in tournament uses a modified Page playoff format, and all rounds are best-of-seven series. The tournament follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away format, meaning the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home.
The NBA Playoffs for the 2024-25 season will begin with the play-in tournament on April 15, 2025, and the first round of the playoffs will start on April 19.
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What is the tournament structure?
The NBA playoffs are the annual elimination tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. The tournament structure consists of four rounds, with each round being a best-of-seven series. Six teams from each of the two conferences automatically advance to the playoffs based on regular season winning percentage. Teams finishing seven through ten from each conference compete in the play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff seeds.
The NBA playoffs have evolved since their inception. In 1947, the playoffs followed a three-stage tournament format, similar to the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 1930s. The two first-place teams qualified directly for one semifinal, playing each other in a best-of-seven series. Teams finishing second and third qualified for the best-of-three quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals then advanced to the semifinals, and the semifinal winners faced off in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) best-of-seven final series.
In 1949, the playoffs were reorganized to match Eastern Division teams against Western Division teams exclusively in two separate brackets. The top four teams from each division qualified, and the quarterfinals and semifinals were renamed division semifinals and division finals, respectively, with both rounds being best-of-three. This format ensured that any playoff team could be eliminated in just two games, including only one home game. Despite these changes, the best-of-seven final remained unchanged.
The NBA playoffs are preceded by the regular season and the preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament. The NBA Finals, which determine the league champion, are widely regarded as the pinnacle of the NBA postseason.
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How has the tournament changed over time?
The NBA playoffs have undergone several changes since their inception. The first-ever NBA playoffs, then known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) tournament, took place in 1947 and featured a three-stage tournament similar to the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 1930s. The top teams qualified directly to a semifinal best-of-7 series, while the second and third-placed teams qualified for best-of-3 quarterfinals.
In 1949, the BAA tournament was reorganized to match Eastern and Western Division teams exclusively, resulting in separate Eastern and Western playoff champions. The number of playoff teams was increased to four from each division, with two rounds of best-of-three series followed by a best-of-seven championship. The BAA was also renamed the National Basketball Association (NBA) that same year.
The NBA continued to make adjustments to the playoff format over the years. From 1954 to 1966, the league reduced the number of teams in the postseason tournament from eight to six due to a decrease in league members. During this period, round robins and best-of-three series were played, with the first-place team in each division idle.
In 1961, the division semifinals were expanded to best-of-five, and in 1967, with an increase in league members, eight teams were again admitted to the tournament. The format evolved into a three-round knockout, with the division semifinals returning to a best-of-seven format in 1968.
Further expansions occurred in 1975 and 1977, with the addition of a fifth and sixth team to each division, requiring an extra first round of best-of-three series. The tournament eventually expanded to its current 16-team, four-round knockout format in 1984. The first round was changed to best-of-seven in 2003, and the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats franchise in 2004 led to a realignment of divisions, guaranteeing division winners a top-four seed.
More recently, the NBA introduced the play-in tournament, which was approved for the 2019-20 season and made permanent in 2022. This tournament involves the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference competing for the final two playoff seeds. The NBA playoffs have thus evolved significantly over time, adapting to changes in the league's structure and size to maintain a competitive and exciting postseason tournament.
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Who are the previous winners?
The NBA playoffs are the annual elimination tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. The tournament is held after the league's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament.
- 2023-24: Boston Celtics defeated Dallas Mavericks, 4-1
- 2022-23: Denver Nuggets defeated Miami Heat, 4-1
- 2021-22: Golden State Warriors defeated Boston Celtics, 4-2
- 2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks defeated Phoenix Suns, 4-2
- 2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Miami Heat, 4-2
- 2018-19: Toronto Raptors defeated Golden State Warriors, 4-2
The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is set to start on April 19, with the NBA Finals beginning on June 5, 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA playoffs start after the league's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament. For the 2024-25 season, the first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 19.
The NBA playoffs is a four-round, best-of-seven tournament.
Six teams from each of the two conferences automatically advance to the playoffs based on regular-season winning percentage. The teams finishing seven through ten from each conference compete in the play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff seeds.
The Celtics defeated the Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals, clinching the title with a 4-1 series win.
