Basketball fans are a restless bunch. Honestly, the second the Larry O'Brien trophy is hoisted in June, the countdown basically begins for the next October. If you've been checking your calendar and wondering exactly when does regular season for NBA start, you aren't alone. We’ve all been there, scrolling through Twitter (or X, whatever) trying to find the official drop from Adam Silver’s office.
The short answer? The 2025-26 NBA regular season officially tipped off on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
But that's just the surface level. If you're a real hoop head, you know the "start" of the season is kinda like a slow-moving freight train. It doesn't just happen overnight. There’s a whole buildup of media days, international preseason tours, and roster cuts that lead up to that first double-header on TNT or NBC.
The Opening Night Chaos
Opening night is always a spectacle. This year, the league didn't hold back. We saw the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder raise their banner before taking on a revamped Houston Rockets squad that actually added Kevin Durant in the offseason. Yeah, that happened. Seeing KD in a Rockets jersey alongside Alperen Sengün felt surreal, but that’s the NBA for you.
The late game featured the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. It was the first time we got to see Luka Dončić in a Lakers jersey for a regular-season game. Wild times.
While everyone focuses on that October 21 date, the "start" really depends on who you ask. Coaches will tell you it starts in September. Players might say it starts when the checks begin to clear. For us? It's when the games actually count in the standings.
Key Milestones You Might Have Missed
- Media Day (Late September): This is where we get the "best shape of my life" quotes. For most teams, it was September 29, but teams playing overseas started as early as September 23.
- Preseason (Early October): This ran for about 16 days. We had games in Abu Dhabi, Macau, and even a random one in Montreal.
- The Roster Deadline: October 20 was the day. Teams had to trim down to their final 15-man rosters. This is usually when some veteran favorite gets cut, and everyone loses their minds on Reddit.
When Does Regular Season For NBA Start vs. The In-Season Tournament?
There’s still some confusion about the Emirates NBA Cup. Some folks think the regular season starts later because of the tournament, but that’s a misconception. The NBA Cup games are actually just regular season games with fancy courts and extra stakes.
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The Cup started on October 31, 2025.
The New York Knicks actually took the trophy this year, beating the Spurs in the final on December 16. It’s a bit weird because the championship game is the only game that doesn't count toward the regular season standings. Everything else? It’s all part of that 82-game grind.
Why the Schedule Always Shifts
People often ask why it isn't the same day every year. The NBA likes to avoid competing with the World Series if they can, and they definitely try to navigate around Monday Night Football. Typically, you’re looking at the second-to-last Tuesday in October.
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If you're planning for the next season (2026-27), expect a similar window. The league usually drops the full 1,230-game schedule in mid-August. It’s like a national holiday for sports bettors and travel junkies.
Significant Dates Remaining in 2026
Since we are currently in January 2026, the "start" is behind us, but the heat is just picking up.
- January 19, 2026: MLK Day marathon.
- February 5, 2026: The Trade Deadline. This is basically the "second start" of the season because rosters change so much.
- February 13–15, 2026: All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The Intuit Dome is going to be a vibe.
- April 12, 2026: The regular season ends. Every single team plays on this day. It’s absolute madness.
Actionable Tips for Following the Season
If you want to keep track of the remaining schedule without losing your mind, don't just rely on the NBA app—it's notoriously glitchy when scores update.
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Check the "International Games" schedule. The NBA is playing in Berlin and London this month (January 2026). If you're a Grizzlies or Magic fan, keep an eye on those weird tip-off times. You don't want to wake up and realize your team already played at 10:00 AM.
Sync your calendar. Most team websites have a "Sync to Calendar" button. Do it. It handles the timezone conversions for you so you aren't doing math at 7:00 PM on a Tuesday.
Watch the 10-day contract market. As of January 5, teams can start signing guys to short-term deals. This is where the desperate contenders try to find a "diamond in the rough" for the playoff push.
The regular season might have started in October, but the real season—the one where teams stop "load managing" and actually play their stars heavy minutes—starts right about now. Strap in. It’s a long way to June.