If you're staring at your calendar trying to figure out when the ball actually tips off for the next cycle of professional hoops, you've likely realized the NBA schedule is a bit of a moving target. It’s not just one date. There’s the preseason, the "real" opening night, and that weird mid-season tournament everyone is still getting used to.
Basically, the 2025-26 NBA regular season officially started on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
That was the night the rings were handed out and the lights got bright. But if you’re looking at the broader 2025 calendar year, we’ve already moved past the initial tip-off and are currently barreling through the heart of the winter schedule. Since we’re actually sitting in January 2026 right now, the "start" is technically in the rearview mirror, but the season's most critical phases are just beginning to heat up.
The October Launch: How It All Went Down
The NBA likes to keep things consistent. They usually aim for that third week of October to get the regular season rolling. For the 2025-2026 campaign, October 21 was the magic number.
Training camps actually opened way back on September 29, 2025, for most of the league. If you were a team playing overseas—like the Knicks or the 76ers—you actually had to report even earlier, around September 23. This is kind of a grueling stretch for players. You go from the beach to full-speed drills in a matter of days.
The preseason itself kicked off on October 2, 2025. It wasn't even on American soil. The Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks flew all the way to Abu Dhabi to start the exhibition slate. Honestly, most veterans hate these long flights for games that don't count, but the league is obsessed with the "global game" branding.
Key Dates for the 2025-2026 Cycle
- September 29, 2025: Training Camps opened for most teams.
- October 2, 2025: Preseason officially began (Abu Dhabi).
- October 21, 2025: Regular Season Opening Night.
- October 31, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) Group Play started.
- December 16, 2025: NBA Cup Championship in Las Vegas.
- April 12, 2026: Regular Season ends.
That "New" Season Feeling: The Emirates NBA Cup
One thing that confuses fans is the "second start" of the season. Ever since the league introduced the In-Season Tournament (now the Emirates NBA Cup), there’s this weird energy shift in late October.
For the 2025-26 season, this tournament tipped off on October 31. It’s essentially a season within a season. You've got these brightly colored courts that look like highlighters exploded on them, and players actually playing defense in November. The New York Knicks ended up taking the trophy home this year, beating the San Antonio Spurs in the final on December 16 in Vegas.
It’s a weird vibe because once the tournament ends, there’s a little bit of a "hangover" in late December before the Christmas Day games wake everyone back up.
Why the Start Date Actually Matters for Betting and Fantasy
If you're a fantasy manager or someone who likes to put a few bucks on the over/under, the start date is everything. Most people forget that the first two weeks of the NBA season are complete chaos.
Coaches are still messing with rotations. Stars are playing "limited minutes" because they spent the summer in Ibiza. If you look at the 2025 start, several "title contenders" came out of the gate looking sluggish. The Oklahoma City Thunder, however, didn't have that problem. They came out swinging on opening night and haven't really looked back.
Currently, the Thunder are sitting at the top of the West with a ridiculous 26-4 record (as of late December/early January data). If you waited until Christmas to start paying attention, you already missed the most profitable part of their season.
International Games and the Schedule Grind
The NBA didn't just stop at Abu Dhabi. The 2025-26 schedule is packed with international stops. We saw the Detroit Pistons play the Dallas Mavericks in Mexico City on November 1.
Looking ahead—since we are in January 2026—we have the Berlin game coming up on January 15 and the London game on January 18. Both feature the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s a lot of travel. Fans in Europe love it, but players often complain that these mid-season trips mess with their internal clocks for weeks.
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The Road to the 2026 All-Star Break
Now that we’ve established when the 2025 NBA season started, we have to look at where it’s going. We are currently approaching the trade deadline and the All-Star festivities.
The 2026 All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026. It’s being held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood—the brand-new home of the LA Clippers. Steve Ballmer is probably going to go over the top with the tech at that arena.
The league is also trying a new format this year: a "USA vs. The World" round-robin tournament. No more boring East vs. West blowouts where nobody plays defense. They’re desperate to make the All-Star game watchable again.
What’s Next: Preparing for the Home Stretch
The regular season wraps up on April 12, 2026. That’s the "Decision Day" where all 30 teams play, and the seeding for the Play-In Tournament gets finalized.
If you’re following a specific team, keep an eye on the 10-day contract window which opened on January 5. This is when teams start picking up G-League standouts to fill injury holes. It's the "grind" part of the season where depth matters more than star power.
Actionable Steps for NBA Fans:
- Sync your digital calendar: Ensure you have the April 12 regular-season finale marked, as the "Play-In" madness starts immediately after on April 14.
- Check the Trade Deadline: February 5 is the cutoff. If your team is struggling, that's the day their future either gets fixed or delayed.
- Watch the Rookies: Cooper Flagg (who went to the Dallas Mavericks) has been a massive storyline since the October start. Watching how he hits the "rookie wall" in February is key for any serious fan.
The 2025-26 season is already deep in the trenches, but the real drama is only just starting to unfold as we move toward the 2026 playoffs.