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Basketball is far from finished as a sport. The 2024-25 NBA season was the 79th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 2025-26 season is set to be the 80th. The NBA is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition. The upcoming season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, with the regular season ending on April 12, 2026, and the NBA Finals starting on June 4, 2026.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current NBA Season | 2024-25 |
| Next NBA Season | 2025-26 |
| NBA Seasons to Date | 80 |
| Current NBA Champion | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Upcoming NBA Draft | 2025 NBA Draft |
| Upcoming NBA All-Star Game | February 15, 2026 |
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What You'll Learn
The 80th NBA season
Basketball is far from finished! In fact, the 80th National Basketball Association (NBA) season is just around the corner. The 2025-26 NBA season is set to tip off on October 21, 2025, with the regular season concluding on April 12, 2026. This season marks a significant milestone in the history of the NBA, which has become the most prominent professional basketball league globally in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and competition level.
The upcoming season promises to be exciting, with several key dates and events already announced. The third instalment of the in-season NBA Cup tournament, now known simply as the NBA Cup, will take place from October 31 to December 16, 2025. This tournament has the same structure as the previous season, with all games except the championship final contributing to the regular-season standings. The group stage will see teams face off on Fridays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, with two games at home and two away. The tournament champions will be decided in the semifinals and final, held at a neutral site.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game, a highlight of the season, is scheduled for February 15, 2026, and will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This highly anticipated event brings together the best players in the league for a showcase of exceptional talent and entertainment. The play-in tournament is set to begin the following month, on April 14, 2026, with the playoffs commencing the next day. The NBA Finals will tip off on June 4, 2026, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for June 21, where we will see if a team can dethrone the reigning champions.
The 2025 NBA Draft, an integral part of the league's future, took place on June 25-26, 2025, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This event marked the beginning of the careers of many aspiring young players who will shape the league in the years to come. The off-season also witnessed several notable trades, with the Houston Rockets acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in the largest trade in NBA history, involving seven teams and 13 players. Additionally, several teams unveiled new logos and uniforms, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, and Memphis Grizzlies, commemorating anniversaries and refreshing their brands.
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Player transfers
In the 2025 offseason, there were over 2,000 Division I transfers in men's college basketball, with nearly 2,700 players entering the transfer portal before the April 22 deadline. This constant movement of players has made it challenging to keep track of roster changes. Notable transfers in college basketball for the 2025-26 season include:
- PJ Haggerty, an All-American guard, transferring from Memphis to Kansas State.
- Amarion Dickerson, a leading scorer, transferring from Robert Morris to USC.
- Alvaro Folgueiras, the second-leading scorer, transferring from Robert Morris to Iowa.
- Sean Newman Jr. from Louisiana Tech joining Memphis as a potential replacement for point guard Nick Boyd, who left for Wisconsin.
- San Diego State initially losing shot-blocker Magoon Gwath to the transfer portal, but ultimately retaining him.
In the NBA, the 2025 offseason has also seen player transfers and trades. Some notable moves include:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker signing a 4-year deal via sign-and-trade.
- Kristaps Porziņģis joining via a 3-team trade.
- Caris LeVert departing in free agency to the Pistons.
- Kyrie Irving agreeing to a 3-year extension.
- Cam Johnson joining via a trade with the Nets.
These player transfers can have significant implications for the teams involved, impacting their performance and strategy for the upcoming season.
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New logos and uniforms
The Boston Celtics' City Edition uniforms featured a black, green, and lime green colorway, inspired by the peach baskets of basketball's early days. The Nets updated their logo to include a "B" inside a basketball as their primary logo and introduced a stylized "Nets" hanging from a rim as their secondary logo, the first time a net has been depicted in their logo. Meanwhile, the Warriors' new Statement Edition uniforms included an arched "Golden State" wordmark, gold numbers, and a blue "sloping cable" representing the Bay Bridge, with a new secondary logo featuring a stylized "W" on the right leg of the shorts.
The Clippers also unveiled new logos, uniforms, and a court design, with a stylized "C" as their primary logo, inspired by naval typography, and featuring a forward-facing naval ship, a nod to the city of San Diego.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the Orlando Magic unveiled a new logo and three new uniforms, blending nostalgia with a modern aesthetic. The iconic star, a fan-favorite, returns with a new look, cascading in a star trail and appearing in the wordmark. The uniforms, including the Association (white), Icon (blue), and Statement (black), pay tribute to the team's history while embracing a new era.
Additionally, the Chicago Bulls announced new Statement Edition uniforms for the 2025-26 season, inspired by their 1995-97 red pinstripe design, adding a touch of nostalgia to their on-court presence.
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Retirements
One such memorable year was 2016, when Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett all retired from the NBA. Combined, these players amassed an impressive 71 All-Star appearances, making it the most decorated retirement class in the league's history. Kobe Bryant, a true NBA icon, went out in style, capping off his illustrious career with a Hollywood ending.
The 2024 NBA season also witnessed the departure of several prominent players. Blake Griffin, known for his powerful slam dunks, announced his retirement on Instagram. Griffin's 13-season career began with the LA Clippers, where he created the "Lob City" era. Despite battling injuries, he added defense and jumpshots to his game during his later years with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics. Another fan favorite, Derrick Rose, also retired in 2024. Admired for his explosive athleticism and incredible drives to the basket, Rose played for several teams, including the Chicago Bulls, where he first rose to stardom. Ricky Rubio, known for his court vision and assists, and Gordon Hayward, a pivotal All-Star, also hung up their jerseys that year.
While these players have moved on from the game, their impact on the sport will always be remembered. Their retirements also open doors for the next generation of basketball stars to step up and make their mark in the NBA.
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The game's evolution
Basketball is far from finished as a sport, with a rich history and an exciting future ahead. The game was invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, and has since become one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports. With the National Basketball Association (NBA) leading the way, basketball continues to evolve and captivate fans worldwide.
The early days of basketball saw the sport played with a ball that had laces, which made dribbling and bounce passes unpredictable. Over time, the game evolved to use a lace-free ball, endorsed by Naismith himself. The ball's colour also changed from brown to orange in the 1950s, improving visibility for players and spectators.
The rules and strategies of basketball have also evolved. Initially, dribbling was limited to the "bounce pass" to teammates. Now, players advance the ball by dribbling or passing it to their teammates, with the point guard and shooting guard responsible for executing the coach's game plan. The introduction of the three-point line added a new layer of strategy, rewarding players for shooting from beyond the arc.
The NBA has played a significant role in the sport's evolution, with the 2024-25 season marking its 79th season. The league has a strong following and attracts talent from around the world. The upcoming 2025-26 season will be the 80th, with the regular season scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, and conclude on April 12, 2026. The NBA also has an off-season Summer League, providing players an opportunity to fight for a roster spot and giving fans basketball action throughout the year.
The game has also evolved beyond the traditional 5-on-5 format, with informal variations like 3-on-3, 2-on-2, and 1-on-1 becoming popular. The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and women's Olympic basketball tournament showcase the best female basketball players globally, while the WNBA and EuroLeague Women's leagues provide strong platforms for women's basketball to thrive. With a vibrant global presence, basketball continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 2024-25 NBA season ended on April 13, 2025. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
The 2025-26 NBA season is set to begin on October 21, 2025.
The 2024-25 NBA season was the 79th season of the National Basketball Association. It featured the second annual in-season tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup. The Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, and Memphis Grizzlies all unveiled new logos and uniforms. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder both had winning streaks of 10 or more games.
Some key dates for the 2025-26 NBA season include:
- September 5-6: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Enshrinement Weekend.
- September 23: Media days for teams travelling outside North America for preseason.
- September 29: NBA Training Camps open.
- October 2 & 4: Preseason NBA Abu Dhabi Games.
- October 31 - December 16: Third edition of the in-season NBA Cup tournament.
- February 15, 2026: 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
- June 4, 2026: NBA Finals.
