The wait for basketball is basically a test of human patience. You survive the draft, you over-analyze Summer League highlights of a guy who might not even make the rotation, and then you’re just... waiting. But if you’re asking "when do nba regular season start," honestly, the answer is usually hiding right in the third week of October.
Every single year, fans start itching for that opening tip. It's not just about the games; it's about the rhythm of life coming back. For the 2025-26 season—which is actually the league's 80th anniversary—the party officially got started on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The Opening Night Chaos
Opening night is never just a regular game. It's a statement. The league office loves a good narrative, and they usually pick two high-voltage matchups to break the seal. This year, the spotlight was on the defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder. They hosted the Houston Rockets in a game that felt more like a Game 7 than an October opener. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) basically reminded everyone why he's the reigning MVP by sinking two clutch free throws in double overtime to win it 125-124.
The late game? Just a small affair between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Even with LeBron James sidelined with sciatica—which, let's be real, at 41, your back is allowed to complain—the star power was ridiculous. Luka Dončić made his Lakers debut and dropped 43 points. He joined Kobe Bryant and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers to ever hit 40+ in a season opener.
But the Warriors took the W, 119-109. Steph Curry is still Steph Curry.
📖 Related: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
Why the Schedule Always Starts in Late October
You might wonder why they don't start earlier. Like, why not September?
Well, it’s a delicate dance of television contracts and avoiding the teeth of the NFL’s mid-season dominance. The NBA wants those eyeballs. They also have to bake in enough time for a three-week preseason. Preseason usually kicks off in early October. This year, we saw games starting as early as October 2nd, with the Knicks and 76ers playing all the way over in Abu Dhabi.
The league has to balance:
- Player Rest: They’ve been cutting back on back-to-backs to keep stars on the court.
- International Growth: Games in Mexico City, Berlin, and London are now staples.
- The In-Season Tournament: Now known as the Emirates NBA Cup.
The "Cup" has totally shifted how we think about the early season. It officially tipped off on October 31, 2025. It turns those sleepy November Tuesdays and Fridays into "Cup Nights" where the courts look like neon fever dreams and the players actually play like they care about the prize money.
👉 See also: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
Key Dates for the 2025-26 Season
If you're trying to map out your life around the 82-game grind, here’s how the calendar looks:
- Regular Season Start: October 21, 2025.
- NBA Cup Final: December 16, 2025 (The Knicks beat the Spurs, by the way).
- Christmas Day Games: December 25, 2025 (Cavaliers/Knicks was the highlight).
- Trade Deadline: February 5, 2026.
- All-Star Weekend: February 13-15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
- Regular Season End: April 12, 2026.
The NBC Factor
Something kinda huge happened this season. After 24 years, the NBA returned to NBC and Peacock. If you’re old enough to remember the "Roundball Rock" theme song, you know why people were losing their minds. This shift changed the broadcast schedule, with "Sunday Night Basketball" becoming a thing starting in January 2026.
It’s weird seeing games on Peacock, but that’s the world we live in now. Streaming is king.
Misconceptions About the Start Date
Most people assume the season starts the same day every year. It doesn't. While it's almost always a Tuesday in late October, the actual date fluctuates.
✨ Don't miss: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
For example, if there's an Olympics year, the schedule gets wonky. The league tries to avoid overlap because they don't want their best players gassed before the first jump ball. They also have to account for the G League, which usually tips off its "Tip-Off Tournament" in early November (November 7th this year).
What Really Matters: The 82-Game Grind
The NBA has stuck with the 82-game schedule since the 1967-68 season. There’s always talk about shortening it to 66 or 70 games to help with "load management," but the money is too good. More games equals more TV revenue.
So, when the season starts on October 21, these players are signing up for a marathon that doesn't end until April 12. That’s nearly six months of constant travel, late-night flights, and playing through "minor" injuries that would put most of us in the hospital.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to stay on top of the schedule, don't just rely on your memory.
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official NBA website or your team’s page and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It updates automatically if games get flexed to different times.
- Check the TV rights: This year is messy with NBC, ESPN, Amazon Prime, and local RSNs. Make sure you actually have the channel before tip-off.
- Watch the injury reports: With the 65-game rule for awards, stars are trying to play more, but the "Official Injury Report" released a few hours before tip-off is the only thing you should trust for fantasy or betting.
The regular season is a long haul. It's easy to get hyped for opening night and then tune out by January, but with the NBA Cup and the race for the Play-In tournament (April 14-17, 2026), there’s basically no "dead period" anymore.
Get your League Pass sorted. Set your DVR for those late-west coast starts. The 80th NBA season is already halfway through its story, and the finish line in June is a long way off.