Honestly, the "offseason" in the NBA has become a bit of a myth. By the time you’ve finished arguing about draft busts and Summer League standouts, training camp is already knocking on the door. If you’re like most fans, you probably start itching for real games the second the calendar hits October.
So, let's get right to it. For the 2025-26 season, the when nba regular season start question has a very specific answer: Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
That was the night the lights finally went up for real. No more exhibition rotations. No more experimental zone defenses that coaches only use in the preseason to see who's paying attention. Since we are currently in January 2026, we are right in the thick of the mid-season grind, but understanding how this schedule was built helps explain why this year feels so different.
The Chaos of Opening Week
The league didn't just ease into things this year. They went for the jugular. Opening Night on October 21 featured a massive doubleheader on NBC—marking a huge return for the network to NBA broadcasting.
We saw the Houston Rockets, now featuring Kevin Durant after a wild offseason trade, head into Oklahoma City. It was weird seeing KD back in that arena in a Rockets jersey, especially with OKC coming off their 2025 championship run. The late game was the classic "safe bet" for ratings: LeBron James and the Lakers against Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Believe it or not, LeBron is out there in his 23rd season. It’s getting ridiculous.
But opening night is just the tip of the iceberg. The league staggered the "first games" for everyone else over the following three days. By Friday, October 24, every single team had logged their first official minutes.
Why the October Start Date Matters
The NBA has settled into this late-October rhythm for a reason. They want to avoid a total overlap with the early frenzy of the NFL season while still making sure the Finals wrap up before the summer heat gets truly unbearable in June.
- Preseason wrap-up: The exhibition games ended on October 17, 2025.
- Roster Lock: Teams had to have their final 15-man squads set by October 20.
- The 82-Game Grind: Every team is scheduled for the standard 82 games, despite all the talk every year about shortening the season to 72.
When NBA Regular Season Start: The Emirates NBA Cup Twist
Something that confuses a lot of casual fans is how the "In-Season Tournament" (now the Emirates NBA Cup) fits into the start of the season.
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It doesn't start on day one.
For the 2025-26 campaign, the Cup tipped off on Friday, October 31, 2025. Basically, the league gives teams about ten days to find their footing before they start playing games that count for both the regular season standings and the tournament brackets.
The New York Knicks actually ended up winning the whole thing this year, beating the San Antonio Spurs in the final on December 16 in Las Vegas. If you're wondering if those games "count," the answer is yes. Every Cup game except the Championship game is part of the regular 82-game schedule. It’s a bit of a math headache, but it keeps the stakes high in November.
Key Milestones You Might Have Missed
If you’re just tuning in now that it’s January, here’s the quick catch-up on the schedule milestones that have already passed:
- Christmas Day (December 25): The annual tradition featured the Spurs vs. Thunder and Mavericks vs. Warriors.
- The 10-Day Contract Window: This opened on January 5, 2026. This is when teams start grabbing G League standouts to fill injury holes.
- Guaranteed Contracts: As of January 10, any player still on a roster is basically locked in for the rest of the season's salary.
What’s Coming Up Next?
We’ve established when nba regular season start, but where are we going? The regular season doesn't just run forever. It’s a sprint to April 12, 2026. That is the hard stop. All 30 teams will play on that final Sunday, and then the real madness begins.
The Road to the 2026 Finals
- Trade Deadline: February 5, 2026. Expect some fireworks here.
- All-Star Break: February 13-15 in Los Angeles at the new Intuit Dome.
- Play-In Tournament: April 14–17, 2026.
- Playoffs Start: April 18, 2026.
There’s a lot of noise about "load management" and stars sitting out, but the league’s new rules regarding player participation have actually kept most of the big names on the floor this year. If a player wants to be eligible for end-of-season awards like MVP or All-NBA, they have to hit that 65-game threshold. That’s why you’re seeing guys like Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pushing through minor knocks more than they might have three years ago.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're looking to catch a game or just follow along more closely, here is what you should do right now:
Check your local listings for the MLK Day slate on January 19. It’s always one of the best days for continuous basketball, with games starting as early as 1:00 PM ET.
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Keep an eye on the "Games Back" column in the standings starting Feb 1st. That’s usually when the pretenders start to fall away and teams decide if they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
If you're planning a trip to see a game, look at the schedule for the second half of March. Teams often play back-to-backs during this stretch, which increases the "trap game" potential where a bottom-feeder beats a contender.
The 2025-26 season is already past the halfway mark, but the intensity is only going to ramp up from here. Now that you know the timeline, you won't get caught off guard when the playoff race turns into a total scramble in April.