Andrew Pace
The National Basketball Association (NBA) season traditionally runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. The NBA's 2025-26 season marks the first year of 11-year agreements with broadcast networks ABC and NBC, pay television network ESPN, and streaming services Peacock and Amazon Prime Video to nationally televise games in the United States. The NBA Preseason begins on October 4, with the regular season starting on October 22. The college basketball season, on the other hand, typically begins in early November and lasts until March, with conference tournaments determining March Madness bids taking place at the end of February or early March.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NBA season dates | October to April |
| Number of teams | 30 (29 in the US, 1 in Canada) |
| Number of games per team | 82 |
| Playoffs | Extend into June |
| College basketball season | Starts in November |
| 2025-26 NBA season | Starts October 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
NBA 2025-26 season dates
The 2025-26 NBA season is the upcoming 80th season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025, and end on April 12, 2026. Before the regular season begins, teams will play several preseason games, giving fans an early look at rosters and strategies. This year, the NBA preseason takes on a global dimension with the NBA Melbourne Games 2025. The New Orleans Pelicans will travel to Australia to face Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will also play preseason games in China.
The third edition of the in-season NBA Cup tournament is planned to be held from October 31 through December 16, 2025. The NBA Cup returns for the 2025–26 season, with the same basic structure: all games except the championship final will count toward the regular-season standings. Six intraconference pools of five (three pools per conference) will compete, with each team playing two games at home and two away. The winners of each pool (three teams per conference) and two wild-card teams (one per conference) will advance to a single-elimination tournament.
November 2025 marks a turning point in the NBA season. After the early adjustments in October, teams are now fully engaged in the competition, looking to establish their playing style and secure crucial victories. Strategies start to take shape, and the first insights into each team’s true strength begin to emerge. December 2025 is another pivotal month, as midseason approaches and teams aim to solidify their position in the standings. Every game becomes a test to measure their ability to compete with the league's best.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The play-in tournament is scheduled to be played from April 14 to 17, 2026, followed the next day by the opening of the playoffs, which will conclude with the NBA Finals starting on June 4, with a possible Game 7 scheduled for June 21.
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College basketball season start
The college basketball season typically begins in early November and lasts through the end of December. This period is known as the nonconference portion of the season, during which teams play against schools from other conferences. The bulk of a team's schedule during the season consists of games against fellow conference members.
Following the nonconference period, conference play starts in January and continues until the end of the regular season in February or early March. The exact dates may vary slightly from year to year and between different college basketball leagues.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) oversees college basketball in the United States. The NCAA Tournament, commonly known as "March Madness," follows the conclusion of the regular season and is one of the most popular sporting events in the country. The tournament features 68 teams, with the field being revealed on Selection Sunday.
Prior to the start of the regular season, there are several preseason tournaments and showcase events. One notable preseason tournament is the NIT Season Tip-Off (formerly known as the Preseason NIT), which takes place in November. The tournament was first held in 1985 and has since become a showcase for top college basketball teams.
The NBA season, which features professional players, also has key dates throughout the year, including training camps, media days, and the NBA Draft.
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NBA preseason
The NBA preseason is an important period for teams to evaluate their rosters and make any necessary adjustments before the start of the regular season. It is also a great opportunity for fans to get a first look at their favorite teams and players in action.
For the 2025-26 season, the NBA preseason will begin on October 4, with teams playing exhibition games to prepare for the upcoming season. The preseason will feature a variety of events, including the California Classic Summer League, the Salt Lake City Summer League, and the USA Basketball Showcase, which will take place in July and early August.
One of the key dates during the preseason is the start of training camps, which open for all teams participating in preseason games outside of North America on September 25. This is when teams will begin practicing and preparing for the upcoming season in earnest. On September 30, all other veteran players are allowed to report to their teams, and media day will be held for the remaining 28 NBA teams.
The preseason also includes a number of showcase games, such as the Nets and Suns playing preseason games on October 10 and 12 at The Venetian Arena. These games give fans a taste of what to expect from their favorite teams and players in the upcoming season.
The NBA preseason is a great opportunity for players to get back into game shape and for teams to evaluate their rosters. It is also a time for celebration, with events like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend taking place during this period. The preseason ends on October 18, leading into the start of the regular season on October 22.
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NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the premier championship series of the National Basketball Association's annual playoff round. The finals occur every year in June, following the conclusion of the regular season and the preceding playoff rounds.
The 2025 NBA Finals were held in June and saw the Pacers face off against the Thunder. The Pacers boasted an explosive offense, while the Thunder relied on their relentless defense. The Thunder ultimately clinched the championship, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named as the Finals MVP.
The 2024-25 NBA season is set to begin on October 22, 2024, with the NBA Preseason games starting on October 4, 2024. The preseason features international games in Abu Dhabi, Melbourne, Vancouver, Macao, and other locations. The regular season will tip off on October 22, 2024, with all 30 teams in action by November 4, 2024.
The NBA Playoffs typically begin in April, following the conclusion of the regular season. The specific dates vary each year, but the playoffs generally last for around two months, culminating in the NBA Finals in June. The NBA Playoffs feature the top teams from each conference, with the number of qualifying teams varying over the years.
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games crowned as the NBA Champion. The format has remained consistent over the years, with the home court advantage alternating between the teams throughout the series.
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NBA international presence
The NBA has been working on expanding its international presence for several decades. The first NBA international exhibition game took place in Israel in 1978, with the Washington Bullets playing against the Maccabi Tel Aviv. During the 1970s and 1980s, the NBA's presence on the international stage grew, with games played in China, Germany, Russia, Italy, and more. In the 2019-2020 season, the NBA continued its international presence with preseason trips to China, the annual NBA Africa game, and the first preseason games played in India. Regular season games have also been played in the UK and Mexico since 2011. The NBA has also been working on enhancing its broadcasting and digital presence internationally, with games being broadcast in 215 countries and 34 languages during the 2017-2018 season. The league has also been utilizing social media to reach fans worldwide, with teams, players, and fans interacting on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
The NBA's international presence is also reflected in the diversity of its players and owners. The roster for the 2019-2020 season featured 113 international players, the second-most in a professional American sports league. Notable foreign players include Kiki Vandeweghe, Detlef Schrempf, and Hakeem Olajuwon, who joined the league in the 1980s. In terms of ownership, Indian businessman Vivek Ranadivé and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov own the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets, respectively, joining long-time Miami Heat owner Micky Arison as the association's only international owners.
The NBA's efforts to reach a global audience have been well-received by fans around the world. International basketball fans appreciate the opportunity to attend games in person or view content whenever they want. The league's broadcasting partnerships, such as with Sky Sports in the UK, have also helped to promote the NBA throughout Europe. The NBA's work on broadcasting and utilizing new technologies, such as augmented viewing experiences, will continue to be important in reaching a global audience.
The NBA's measured approach to expansion, as stated by Commissioner Adam Silver, differs from other leagues such as the NFL, which had planned to put an expansion team in London by 2022. Instead, the NBA focuses on creating a quality global product, with well-produced broadcasts and regular season games played internationally. The league's globalization efforts have contributed to its growing fanbase worldwide, with more than 35% of visitors to NBA.com coming from outside North America. The NBA's international presence is expected to continue growing, with a focus on enhancing the fan experience and reaching new markets.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA's regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. The league's playoff tournament extends into June, culminating with the NBA Finals championship series. The 2025-26 season will be the first year of 11-year agreements with broadcast networks ABC and NBC, pay television network ESPN, and streaming services Peacock and Amazon Prime Video to nationally televise games in the United States.
The college basketball season traditionally begins in the first few days of November. The non-conference portion of the season stretches from the first week of November through the last week of December. Conference tournaments that determine March Madness automatic bids usually start at the end of February or the beginning of March.
Some key dates for the 2025-26 NBA season include:
- Sept. 24: First allowable date for players participating in Celtics & Nuggets preseason games in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to report to their teams.
- Sept. 30: First allowable date for all other veteran players to report to their teams.
- Oct. 1: NBA Training Camps open.
- Oct. 4: NBA Preseason games begin.
- Oct. 12-13: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend.
- Oct. 16: WNBA Finals, Game 3.
- Oct. 22: Start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.
The WNBA season usually begins in May and ends in October. The 2025 WNBA season started on May 6, and the 2025 WNBA Finals will be held from October 13 to 20.
