When the ball finally went up in the air this past October, it wasn't just another Tuesday. It felt heavier. The start of the NBA season—specifically this 80th anniversary year—marked a massive shift in how we actually watch the game. If you missed the opening tip, you might have been looking for the wrong channel. For the first time in over two decades, NBC is back in the mix, and the league is leaning hard into streaming on Peacock and Amazon Prime. It’s a bit of a mess to navigate at first, honestly.
Most people assume the beginning of the year is just a feeling-out process where stars cardio-run their way into shape. They're wrong. This year, the stakes were cooked into the schedule from day one because the Oklahoma City Thunder weren't just defending a title; they were trying to fend off a "reloaded" Houston Rockets squad featuring a homecoming Kevin Durant.
Why the October 21 Kickoff Changed Everything
Opening night wasn't just about rings and banners in OKC. It was a litmus test for the new media deal. You've got the Thunder hosting the Rockets and the Lakers taking on the Warriors. That Lakers-Warriors matchup? LeBron James entering his 23rd season. Think about that for a second. Most NBA players don't have careers that last five years. He’s out there facing Steph Curry while the league debuts its new "Sunday Night Basketball" branding on NBC.
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The energy during the start of the NBA season usually fades by November, but the league fixed that with the NBA Cup. By October 31, we were already into "Cup Nights." It’s basically the NBA’s version of European soccer tournaments. Every Tuesday and Friday game suddenly mattered for a trophy in Las Vegas. If you think players don't care about a mid-season tournament, go look at the point differential tiebreakers. Teams were running up the score in November like it was Game 7 of the Finals.
The Rookie Reality Check and the Cooper Flagg Factor
Every year, the hype around the number one pick is suffocating. This year, it was different because the Dallas Mavericks—of all teams—landed Cooper Flagg. Seeing a rookie step into a backcourt with Luka Dončić right at the start of the NBA season created a weird dynamic. Usually, a top pick goes to a basement-dweller. Flagg stepped into a contender.
It hasn't been all sunshine, though. The transition for some of these kids is brutal.
- Physicality: The jump from college or the G-League to guarding someone like Anthony Edwards is a nightmare.
- The Schedule: Playing four games in six nights starting in week two ruins most rookies' legs.
- Expectations: If you aren't putting up 20 points by Halloween, the "bust" labels start flying on social media.
Major Moves We Didn't See Coming
We have to talk about the trades that shook the league's foundation before the first whistle even blew. Kevin Durant going to Houston? That was a "win-now" earthquake. Then you had the Boston Celtics essentially blowing up their championship core because of the new CBA’s luxury tax "aprons." Jayson Tatum stayed, but Jaylen Brown being on the block changed the vibe in TD Garden immediately.
The league is becoming a place where you can’t keep a superteam together for more than two years. The rules are designed to punish the big spenders. Because of that, the start of the NBA season felt more like a game of musical chairs. You had Desmond Bane in Orlando and Mikal Bridges trying to find his spot in New York. It’s chaotic.
The "NBA Cup" and the Vegas Finish
By the time we hit December, the New York Knicks were lifting the NBA Cup after beating the San Antonio Spurs in Vegas. Jalen Brunson took home the MVP. It’s funny because, in October, people were still calling the tournament a "gimmick." By December 16, the intensity was higher than some playoff series I’ve seen.
The Spurs, led by a sophomore Victor Wembanyama, proved that the "future" is basically already here. They didn't win the Cup, but they pushed the Knicks to the brink. It’s rare to see a team that young compete that early in the year. Usually, young teams are still learning how to defend a pick-and-roll in December. Wemby is just a different species.
Practical Steps for Following the Rest of the Season
If you’re just tuning in now that the initial dust has settled, there’s a specific way to catch up without watching 82 games of highlights.
- Check the "Apron" Status: Look at which teams are over the second luxury tax apron. Those are the teams most likely to make "desperation trades" before the February 5 deadline because they literally cannot sign buyout players later.
- Monitor the Injury Report: This season has been brutal for Achilles injuries. Tyrese Haliburton and several others are out or recovering. Depth is the only thing that wins in the modern NBA.
- Watch the International Games: The NBA is heading to Berlin and London in mid-January. These aren't exhibitions; they're regular-season games that often have huge travel-day "hangover" effects on the teams' next three games.
- Peacock/NBC Schedule: Get a handle on the Tuesday night doubleheaders. The broadcast quality is a massive step up from what we’ve had, and the nostalgia of the "Roundball Rock" theme song is actually pretty great.
The start of the NBA season is a marathon, but the 2025-2026 campaign has felt more like a series of high-stakes sprints. Between the New York Knicks asserting dominance in the East and the Thunder trying to maintain their Western Conference lead, there isn't much room for error. If a team starts 2-10, they're basically dead in the water. The parity is just too high right now.
Keep an eye on the standings as we approach the All-Star break in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome. That’s when the real separation happens, but the foundation—and the championship habits—were all built back in those first few weeks of October.