
The NBA season typically begins in the fall, with the 2024-25 season starting on October 22, 2024. The non-conference portion of the college basketball season usually starts in the first week of November and ends in the last week of December. However, the exact start date of the basketball season can vary, as it is influenced by various factors such as the NBA calendar, which includes key dates like the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend and the WNBA Finals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When does the NBA season start? | The 2024-25 NBA season started on October 22, 2024. |
| When does the college basketball season start? | The non-conference portion of the college basketball season starts in the first week of November and ends in the last week of December. |
| When does the NCAA spring sports season start? | The NCAA spring sports season starts in the heart of winter and runs until summer. |
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What You'll Learn

The 2024-25 NBA season starts on October 22
The 2024-25 NBA season is the 79th season of the National Basketball Association. It started on October 22, 2024, and will end on April 13, 2025. The NBA held an in-season tournament for the second year in a row, this time called the Emirates NBA Cup. The NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The 2024-25 season will also include the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, which will take place from April 15 to 18, 2025, followed by the playoffs the next day. The NBA Finals will be held in June.
The NBA season typically starts in the fall, with the regular season beginning in October and ending in April of the following year. This is followed by the playoffs and the NBA Finals, which typically take place in June. The exact dates of the NBA season can vary slightly from year to year, but it generally follows this schedule.
Spring, on the other hand, typically refers to the period from March to May. According to the meteorological calendar, spring always begins on March 1 and ends on May 31. This definition is based on the annual temperature cycle and is used for meteorological observing and forecasting. It provides a clear transition between the seasons and coincides with the Gregorian calendar.
However, the astronomical spring is defined differently. It refers to the position of the Earth's orbit in relation to the Sun, taking into account equinoxes and solstices. Due to the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis, the start date of astronomical spring can vary from year to year. For example, in 2022, astronomical spring began on March 20 and ended on June 21.
The 2024-25 NBA season started in the fall, leading into the winter season, and will conclude in the spring with the playoffs and NBA Finals. The NBA season typically spans multiple seasons, providing basketball fans with year-round excitement and action.
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College basketball season starts in November
In the northern hemisphere, spring spans the months of March, April, and May. The exact dates vary each year, but spring typically starts on 1 March and ends on 31 May.
The college basketball season, on the other hand, starts in November. The 2024-25 season of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, for instance, began on 4 November 2024. The regular season will end on 16 March 2025, with the tournament commencing on 18 March and concluding with the championship game in San Antonio, Texas, on 7 April.
The non-conference portion of the college basketball season usually lasts from the first week of November to the last week of December. Conference play then begins, with tournaments to decide March Madness automatic bids taking place towards the end of February or the start of March.
The 2024-25 NBA season, meanwhile, will tip off on 22 October, with all 30 teams in action on 3 November. The NBA G League regular season will start on 27 December.
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Christmas Day games
Spring in the Northern Hemisphere typically begins on 1 March and ends on 31 May. The dates vary slightly each year, with spring beginning on 20 March and ending on 21 June in 2022.
The NBA season usually starts in October, with the 2024-25 season beginning on 22 October. The NBA has a long-standing tradition of playing games on Christmas Day, 25 December, with games taking place annually since 1947, the league's second season. The Christmas Day games have no fixed opponents but feature some of the best teams and players.
In recent years, players and coaches have complained that the games take time away from their families. However, others view playing on Christmas Day as a privilege and an honour. The games are a popular tradition for fans, with five matchups taking place and airing on TV channels such as ESPN, ABC, and Disney+.
The 2024 Christmas Day games will include:
- Spurs at Knicks (12 p.m. ET)
- Timberwolves at Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET)
- Sixers at Celtics (5 p.m. ET)
- Lakers at Warriors (8 p.m. ET)
- Nuggets at Suns (10:30 p.m. ET)
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World Basketball Day is December 21
The start of spring varies depending on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological spring. The former considers the position of Earth's orbit concerning the Sun, while the latter is based on the annual temperature cycle. By the meteorological calendar, spring always begins on March 1 and ends on May 31.
Now, onto the topic of World Basketball Day, which falls on December 21. This day celebrates the unifying power of basketball, a sport that brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds and fosters mutual understanding. It encourages people to participate and connect through their shared passion for the game and the values it represents, such as teamwork, determination, inclusivity, and balance.
World Basketball Day was established in 2023 by the United Nations and is observed annually on the date that Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at the Springfield YMCA in 1891. It is a day to honor the heritage of basketball and its positive influence on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities worldwide. Celebrations include playing basketball, attending games, community events, and sharing experiences on social media using #WorldBasketballDay.
In 2023, YMCA Bombay engaged over 1,000 children across nine courts in Mumbai, while YMCA Thessaloniki in Greece organized games and museum tours. The NBA also joins the celebrations with youth basketball clinics, special theme nights at games, and themed content rollouts on their digital platforms. World Basketball Day is a chance for people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds to come together and celebrate their love for the sport.
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NBA All-Star break in February
Spring in the northern hemisphere starts on 1 March and ends on 31 May. The dates vary slightly each year, with the 2022 spring season, for instance, starting on 20 March and ending on 21 June. This variation is due to the seasons being defined by the Earth's position in its orbit around the Sun, taking into account equinoxes and solstices.
The NBA season also has its key spring dates. The 2024-25 season, for example, includes the NBA All-Star break in February. This mid-season break is a weekend-long event that features the league's top players and celebrities. The 2025 All-Star Weekend took place in the San Francisco Bay Area from 14-16 February and included a new format with a mini-tournament consisting of four teams of eight players each. The teams are selected by a combination of fan, player, and media voting, with the leading vote-getters assigned as captains. The All-Star Weekend also includes a dunk contest, a 3-point contest, and the Rising Stars Challenge, which features first- and second-year players. The Rising Stars Challenge has had several formats over the years, including a USA vs. the World format in 2015. The NBA All-Star Game has a rich history, with the first game played in 1951, and has been hosted in various cities across the US, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA season usually starts in October.
The college basketball season starts in November and ends in March.
The NBA preseason ends in the third week of October.
The NBA G League regular season begins on 27 December.











































