
Basketball is a sport that is played all over the world and has a huge fan following. The basketball season is divided into distinct periods: Preseason, Regular Season, Playoffs, and Postseason. The NBA preseason typically begins in late September or early October and lasts about 2-3 weeks. The regular season starts in October and goes on till April, with each team playing 82 games. The playoffs begin in mid-April and the NBA Finals, which is the culmination of the season, takes place in early to mid-June. The NBA season thus lasts for about 6 months or 26-27 weeks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of games | 82 |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Start date | Last week of October |
| End date | April |
| Playoffs | Begin in mid-April, end in mid-June |
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What You'll Learn
- The NBA preseason typically starts in late September or early October
- The regular season usually runs from October to April
- Playoffs begin in mid-April and end with the NBA Finals in June
- The NBA also has a Summer League for players seeking a roster spot
- The college basketball season typically starts in early November and ends in early April

The NBA preseason typically starts in late September or early October
The preseason typically lasts about 2 to 3 weeks, consisting of a handful of exhibition games for each team. Teams that participate in the Celtics and Nuggets preseason games in Abu Dhabi, UAE, can report to their teams from the 24th of September. The 2025 preseason also includes the NBA China Games, with the Nets playing the Suns from the 10th to the 12th of October.
The NBA preseason is an important part of the basketball calendar, as it gives teams a chance to prepare and evaluate their strategies and rosters before the regular season begins. It is also an opportunity for younger or fringe players to showcase their talents and gain experience. The preseason games are highly anticipated by fans, who eagerly await tip-off every fall.
The NBA regular season typically starts around the last week of October and goes on until April the next year. This allows for a full 82-game season, including playoffs. Each team plays around three games per week, with ample time to recover between games. The NBA season is a marathon, providing fans with nearly year-round entertainment, including the Summer League, preseason, regular season, playoffs, and offseason.
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The regular season usually runs from October to April
The regular basketball season usually spans six months, starting in the last week of October and ending in April of the following year. This timeframe allows for a full 82-game season, including playoffs. The preseason typically begins in late September or early October and lasts about 2–3 weeks, providing teams with an opportunity to evaluate their rosters and experiment with lineups.
The regular season is the central segment of the basketball calendar. Teams play a set number of matches, establishing their rankings for the subsequent phase. Each team plays approximately three games per week, allowing them to recoup expenses and profit from their franchises. The regular season is followed by the "`postseason," which includes the playoffs and championships.
The NBA playoffs commence in mid-April, shortly after the regular season concludes. The exact duration of the playoffs depends on the league's setup and the number of teams involved. The playoffs are characterised by heightened competition, with elite teams competing in a knockout-style format to determine the season's champion.
The NBA Finals, the pinnacle of the basketball season, typically occur in early to mid-June. The champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences face off in a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion. These games often deliver some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, from clutch performances to iconic championship celebrations.
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Playoffs begin in mid-April and end with the NBA Finals in June
The NBA season is a highly anticipated event in the basketball world, with fans eagerly awaiting tip-off every fall. The regular season typically begins in late September or early October and lasts until April of the following year. This allows for a full 82-game season for each of the 30 teams in the league.
The NBA preseason usually lasts about 2 to 3 weeks, with teams playing a handful of exhibition games. This is a crucial period for teams to evaluate their rosters, experiment with lineups, and give younger players a chance to showcase their skills.
Following the regular season is the postseason, often referred to as the playoffs, which is when the competition truly heats up. The NBA playoffs begin in mid-April, shortly after the regular season wraps up. 16 teams, consisting of 8 teams from each conference, battle through best-of-seven series in four rounds. The intensity of the games increases, and the breaks between games are longer, making for captivating viewing.
The playoffs culminate in the NBA Finals, which typically occur in early to mid-June. The champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences face off in a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion. This is the pinnacle of the basketball season, where legacies are made and championships are won. The Finals often deliver some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, from clutch performances to iconic championship celebrations.
The NBA also has a Summer League, providing year-round entertainment for fans and an opportunity for players to secure a roster spot.
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The NBA also has a Summer League for players seeking a roster spot
The NBA season is a long and gruelling affair, running from October to June, with the preseason beginning in late September. This provides fans with nearly year-round entertainment. The regular season alone consists of 82 games, and that's before the play-in tournament, playoffs, and offseason.
The NBA also has a Summer League, which is ideal for fans as they get some form of NBA action throughout the year. The Summer League is also a great opportunity for players seeking a roster spot. It is a chance for rookies to be judged on more than just their potential, and for scouts to evaluate players' translatable skills, development potential, and hidden value beyond the surface stats. Scouts look at how players react to coaching, how they communicate on the floor, and whether their skill sets translate to defined NBA roles.
The Summer League is a talent marketplace, with scouts searching not just for players for their own benches but also keeping an open mind to discover players who could be a great fit for other teams. Scouts have to be quick to snap up hidden gems, as every team has scouts at the games, and they may need to sweeten the deal to sign a player before another team does.
The 2025 NBA Summer League included the California Classic and Salt Lake City summer leagues, followed by the main event of the offseason: the NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League. This 11-day tournament featured fresh faces from the 2025 draft class, other recent draftees, and unsigned veterans looking for spots on rosters.
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The college basketball season typically starts in early November and ends in early April
The preseason usually begins in late September to early October. This initial phase lasts around two to three weeks and consists of a handful of exhibition games for each team. Teams use this time to evaluate their rosters and strategies, and to give younger players a chance to showcase their talents.
The regular season follows, with each team playing a set number of matches to establish their rankings. In the NBA, the regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing around 82 games. College basketball teams, on the other hand, play a much shorter schedule, with only 25-35 games per season.
The regular season is followed by the postseason or playoffs, where the elite teams compete in a knockout-style tournament to determine the season's champion. In the NBA, the playoffs typically begin in mid-April and culminate with the NBA Finals in mid-June.
The entire basketball season, from preseason to playoffs, offers fans a dynamic and ever-evolving spectacle, with nearly year-round entertainment.
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Frequently asked questions
A pro basketball season typically lasts around 30 weeks, from October to April, with each team playing 82 games.
The 82-game schedule for 6 months allows NBA teams to play around three games per week.
The NBA preseason typically starts in late September or early October and lasts about 2-3 weeks.











































