NBA Season Start Dates: Your Complete Guide

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, with a massive following in the United States and globally. The NBA season is a highly anticipated event, and fans eagerly await the start of the new season every year. If you're a basketball enthusiast, you're likely wondering when the next season is set to begin. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through the key dates you need to know for the NBA season start dates, including the pre-season, regular season, playoffs, and key events that make the NBA season an unforgettable experience.

History of NBA Season Start Dates

The NBA season typically begins in October of each year, with the regular season lasting from around mid-October to mid-April. The season has undergone several format changes throughout its history, with the first season starting on November 1, 1946. The league has undergone various format changes, including the introduction of a 50-game schedule in 1948-1949, and a 66-game schedule in 1971-1972, due to player strikes.

The current format, which has been in place since the 2011-2012 season, consists of an 82-game regular season schedule, followed by the playoffs. The playoffs typically begin in late April and conclude with the NBA Finals in late June. The pre-season is usually a two-week period prior to the start of the regular season, featuring exhibition games.

NBA Pre-Season Dates

The NBA pre-season typically begins in late September and runs through early October, with the exact dates varying from year to year. Here are the pre-season dates for the past few seasons:

2020-2021: September 30 - October 10, 2020
2019-2020: September 27 - October 10, 2019
2018-2019: September 25 - October 7, 2018
2017-2018: September 27 - October 6, 2017
2016-2017: September 25 - October 13, 2016

NBA Regular Season Dates

The NBA regular season is the longest part of the season, typically spanning from mid-October to mid-April. The exact dates may vary depending on the team's schedule. For example, the 2020-2021 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a delayed start on December 22, 2020.

Key Regular Season Dates:

The following are some key dates to note during the regular season:

Mid-October: Season opens with opening night, often featuring multiple games across the league.
Early November: Teams either face their cross-conference foes for the first time.
Mid-February: All-Star Break, featuring the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Rising Stars Challenge, and other events.
Early April: Playoffs begin, with teams competing in Conference Semifinal series.
End of April: Conference Finals conclude, leading to the NBA Finals.

NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals Dates

The NBA playoffs begin in early April and conclude with the NBA Finals in late June. The playoffs are divided into four rounds: First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.

Playoff Dates Outline:

Here's a brief outline of the playoff schedule:

First Round: Mid-April to early May, each series is a best-of-seven game series.
Conference Semifinals: Mid-May to early June.
Conference Finals: Early to mid-June.
NBA Finals: Late June, with the NBA Champion crowned.

NBA Key Event Dates

Here are some key events that take place throughout the NBA season:

NBA Draft: Late June, where teams select new players to join their rosters.
Free Agency: July to August, teams can negotiate with free agents to sign new contracts.
Training Camp: September, teams hold pre-season camps to prepare for the upcoming season.
NBA statue Retirement Ceremony: Mid-October, honoring the retirement of iconic team or player logos.

Additional NBA Season Facts and Figures

Here are some additional interesting facts and figures about the NBA season:

Regular season games: 82 games per team.
Playoff games: Best-of-seven series.
Top scorer: current record is 100 points per game by Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-1962.
Fastest three-pointer: recorded by Fred VanVleet in 2016.