You’re sitting there in early October, the air is getting a little crisp, and you realize the itch is back. You need basketball. But then you see a random Tuesday night matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and some team from the NBL in Australia, and you wonder: "Wait, how long is NBA preseason going to drag on before the real games start?"
It’s a fair question. Honestly, the preseason can feel like a fever dream where guys you’ve never heard of are suddenly dropping 20 points in the fourth quarter. If you're looking for a quick answer, the NBA preseason typically lasts about 16 to 19 days.
In 2025, for instance, the action tipped off on October 2 and wrapped up around October 17. That’s just over two weeks of exhibition ball. But the "how long" part isn't just about the calendar days; it's about the grind behind the scenes that most fans ignore while waiting for the ring ceremony.
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The Shortening Era: Why it’s not a month long anymore
Back in the day—we’re talking 1990s and early 2000s—teams used to play eight or even nine preseason games. It was a marathon. Players would basically use the first half of October just to play themselves into shape because they spent the summer, well, not exactly eating kale and running sprints.
Those days are gone.
The league and the Players Association (NBPA) have actively squeezed the preseason to protect players from "load" issues and to move the regular season start date earlier. This helps avoid those brutal "four games in five nights" stretches later in the year. Now, most teams play between four and six games.
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- International Games: Sometimes the preseason feels longer because of the NBA Global Games. If the Knicks and Sixers are flying to Abu Dhabi, they might start a few days earlier than everyone else to account for the jet lag.
- The "Three-Day" Rule: Under the current collective bargaining agreement, exhibition games must end at least three days before the regular season begins. This gives teams a mandatory "breather" to finalize rosters.
What actually happens during those two weeks?
It’s easy to dismiss these games as meaningless. "They don't count!" Sure, they don't count in the standings, but for a huge chunk of the league, these 16 days are the most stressful time of the year.
While the stars are usually on the bench by the third quarter, coaches like Steve Kerr or Erik Spoelstra are essentially running a laboratory. They're testing weird lineups. Can the new rookie play next to the veteran center? Will this specific defensive zone work against a real opponent?
The Battle for the 15th Spot
Each NBA team can carry up to 21 players during the preseason. However, once the regular season starts, that number has to drop to 15 standard contracts (plus three two-way players).
Basically, the last week of preseason is a high-stakes job interview. You’ve got guys playing for their lives while the superstar they're replacing is literally eating popcorn on the sidelines. It's a weird vibe, honestly. You'll see a guy dive into the front row for a loose ball in a 20-point blowout just to show the coaching staff he’s got "grit."
Does the length affect player health?
There’s a constant debate about whether the preseason is too long or too short. If it’s too short, players aren't "game-conditioned," and they start popping hamstrings in November. If it’s too long, you risk a freak injury in a game that doesn't matter.
Most trainers now prefer the 16-day window. It allows for:
- Two days of intense practices (Training Camp).
- A couple of "ramp-up" games where starters play 15 minutes.
- A "dress rehearsal" game (usually the second-to-last one) where the main guys play through the third quarter.
- A final game where the "bubble" players get all the minutes.
Making sense of the schedule
If you’re trying to plan your viewing, don't expect a consistent nightly schedule. Some nights have ten games; some have two. Because teams are often traveling to "neutral sites" like San Diego, Vancouver, or even Kansas City to grow the game in non-NBA markets, the logistics are a bit of a mess.
But that’s kinda the charm of it. You get to see NBA stars in small college arenas or international stadiums, playing a version of basketball that feels a little more raw and a little less polished.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to actually enjoy the preseason instead of just waiting for it to end, try this:
- Watch the "Dress Rehearsal": Identify each team’s second-to-last scheduled game. This is usually the only time you’ll see the actual starting five play significant minutes together.
- Track the Two-Ways: Look up the players on "Exhibit 10" contracts. These guys are fighting for the final roster spots. Their intensity usually makes the fourth quarter of preseason games way more entertaining than you'd expect.
- Ignore the Scores: A team going 5-0 in October means almost nothing. In 2023, the Timberwolves went undefeated in preseason; they were great. But historically, plenty of teams have looked like world-beaters in the exhibition phase only to collapse once the scouting reports became real.
Preseason is the bridge. It’s the transition from the "Best Shape of My Life" Instagram posts to the actual grind of the 82-game season. It's short, it's often messy, but it’s the only way to make sure the product we see on opening night is actually worth the price of admission.