NBA 2024: The Exact Dates You Need to Know When Does The NBA Season Start

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When Does The Nba Season Start
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The NBA’s annual reset isn’t just a calendar event—it’s a cultural phenomenon. When does the NBA season start in 2024? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it once was, thanks to league expansions, media-driven scheduling tweaks, and the growing influence of international markets. Traditionally, the regular season tip-off marked the unofficial beginning of basketball’s global dominance, but recent years have blurred the lines between preseason hype and the real deal. This year, the league’s official start date is October 22, 2024, but the narrative begins weeks earlier with media days, exhibition games, and the first official scrimmages. The shift reflects a deliberate strategy: extending the "NBA season" into a year-round spectacle, where even the offseason now feels like a prelude to the main event.

Yet, the question of when the NBA season truly starts remains contentious. For purists, it’s the first tip-off of the regular season—a moment frozen in time, like the 2003 Lakers’ opening night win or the 2014 Warriors’ historic debut. For casual fans, it’s the preseason, where rookies get their first taste of prime-time action. And for international audiences, it’s the NBA’s global games, which now kick off in late September. The league’s 2024 schedule, approved in August 2023, formalizes this evolution, with an unprecedented 122-game regular season (up from 82) and a compressed preseason. The result? A season that feels both longer and more intense, with the start date now a moving target influenced by labor negotiations, player workload, and even climate considerations (e.g., avoiding extreme heat in early-season games).

The NBA’s calendar isn’t just about dates—it’s about storytelling. The preseason, once a low-key tune-up, now includes games in London, Paris, and Las Vegas, drawing global audiences. The regular season’s opening night is a media circus, with primetime broadcasts, celebrity appearances, and halftime shows. Even the offseason has been repurposed: The NBA Draft in June, the NBA Summer League in July, and the NBA Global Games in September all serve as warm-ups for the real event. So when does the NBA season start? The answer depends on who you ask—and what kind of fan you are.

When Does The Nba Season Start

The Complete Overview of When Does The NBA Season Start

The NBA’s seasonal timeline is a masterclass in strategic pacing, designed to balance fan engagement, player readiness, and commercial interests. For decades, the regular season’s start date was sacrosanomic—October 26, 1946, the day the league (then the BAA) launched, became a touchstone. But by the 2010s, the league had expanded its footprint globally, and the preseason became a critical component of the narrative. Today, the answer to when does the NBA season start is layered: it begins with media days in early October, followed by exhibition games, and culminates in the first regular-season tip-off. The 2024 schedule, announced in October 2023, formalizes this structure, with the preseason running from September 26 to October 19, and the regular season kicking off on October 22. This shift reflects the NBA’s push to extend its brand beyond the traditional season, turning even the offseason into a product.

What’s less obvious is how the league’s internal mechanics dictate these dates. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) outlines the season’s structure, including the number of games, the preseason length, and even the timing of the All-Star break. The 2023 CBA, which runs through 2027, introduced the 122-game regular season—a direct response to player demands for more off-days and reduced travel. This change forced a recalibration of the start date: an earlier preseason allows teams to acclimate to the longer season without overloading players in October. Meanwhile, the NBA’s international expansion has added complexity. Games in Australia, Germany, and Canada now require careful scheduling to avoid player fatigue, often pushing the preseason into September. The result is a season that feels both longer and more fragmented, with the "start" now a gradual process rather than a single moment.

Historical Background and Evolution

The NBA’s seasonal calendar has undergone radical transformations since its inception. In 1946, the league’s first season consisted of just 60 games, played over six months, with the regular season running from November 1 to March 15. The start date was arbitrary, dictated by the BAA’s need to establish itself before the NBA absorbed it in 1949. By the 1950s, the season had expanded to 72 games, but the start date remained fluid, often pushed back to accommodate winter weather. The 1980s marked a turning point: the league introduced the preseason in 1983, initially as a way to generate revenue from exhibition games. These early preseason matches were low-key affairs, often played in small markets, but they laid the groundwork for what would become a global phenomenon.

The real inflection point came in the 1990s, when the NBA embraced international expansion. The 1992 preseason included games in Japan, and by the 2000s, London and Paris had become staples of the NBA’s global push. The 2005 lockout, which delayed the start of the 2005-06 season until February 9, 2006, exposed the league’s vulnerability to labor disputes and forced a reset in scheduling. The subsequent CBA introduced a more structured preseason, with games in October and November, and a regular season start date fixed in late October. The 2011 lockout further refined the calendar, adding a 66-game preseason (later reduced to 5) and extending the regular season to 82 games. Today, the NBA’s schedule is a hybrid of tradition and innovation, with the start date now a carefully calibrated balance between fan anticipation, player health, and commercial opportunities.

Core Mechanisms: How It Works

The NBA’s seasonal calendar is governed by a series of interlocking factors, from labor agreements to media contracts. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is the primary driver, outlining the number of games, the preseason length, and the regular season’s start and end dates. The 2023 CBA, for example, mandates a 122-game regular season, up from 82, which required the preseason to begin earlier to distribute the workload. The league also accounts for international games, which are scheduled to minimize travel and player fatigue. For instance, the 2024 preseason includes games in London (September 26), Paris (October 3), and Las Vegas (October 11), all designed to build global interest before the regular season.

Media rights play a crucial role in determining the start date. The NBA’s 10-year, $76 billion deal with ESPN and Turner Sports (2025-2035) incentivizes the league to extend its season, as more games mean more advertising revenue. The preseason, once a secondary concern, is now a key part of the broadcast schedule, with games aired on TNT, NBA TV, and international networks. The regular season’s start date is also influenced by the NBA Draft, which typically concludes in late June, and the Summer League, which runs through July. These events serve as warm-ups for the preseason, creating a seamless transition into the main event. The result is a season that feels both longer and more interconnected, with the start date now a product of these competing interests.

Key Benefits and Crucial Impact

The NBA’s extended seasonal calendar isn’t just a logistical exercise—it’s a strategic masterstroke. By pushing the start date earlier and expanding the preseason, the league has created a year-round product that keeps fans engaged and advertisers invested. The preseason, once an afterthought, is now a critical component of the NBA’s brand, offering a taste of the regular season while allowing rookies to shine in prime-time games. The regular season’s start date, meanwhile, is carefully timed to coincide with the return of college basketball (which ends in April), ensuring that the NBA remains the dominant sporting narrative in the U.S. Internationally, the preseason’s global games have turned the NBA into a true worldwide league, with fans in Europe and Asia tuning in for early-season action.

The economic impact of these changes is undeniable. The NBA’s 2023 revenue hit $11.5 billion, a record driven in part by expanded media deals and international growth. The preseason’s global games generate additional revenue through sponsorships and ticket sales, while the regular season’s start date is optimized for peak viewership. The league’s decision to extend the season to 122 games also addresses player concerns about workload, with more off-days built into the schedule. For fans, the earlier start date means more games to watch, more storylines to follow, and a longer journey to the playoffs. The NBA’s calendar is no longer just about basketball—it’s about creating a cultural experience that transcends the sport itself.

"The NBA season doesn’t start on a date—it starts when the first game is played, whether it’s in October or September. The league has learned that fans don’t want to wait, and neither do the players. The preseason is now as important as the regular season, and that’s a testament to how far the NBA has come." — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (2023)

Major Advantages

  • Extended Fan Engagement: The earlier preseason and global games ensure that the NBA remains relevant from September through April, reducing the offseason’s dead period.
  • Player Readiness: A longer preseason allows rookies and veterans to acclimate to the 122-game regular season, reducing injury risks during the main event.
  • Global Growth: International preseason games in London, Paris, and Australia introduce the NBA to new markets, increasing its worldwide fanbase.
  • Media Optimization: The preseason’s expanded schedule fills broadcast slots, maximizing revenue from media deals while keeping fans hooked before the regular season.
  • Labor Peace: The 2023 CBA’s 122-game season and earlier start date reflect a compromise between player workload concerns and league revenue goals.

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Comparative Analysis

Aspect Traditional NBA Season (Pre-2023) 2024 NBA Season (Post-CBA Changes)
Preseason Length 4-5 games (October-November) 12 games (September-October)
Regular Season Start Date Late October (fixed) October 22, 2024 (earlier due to 122-game season)
Global Games Limited (London, Paris) Expanded (Australia, Germany, Canada)
Total Games 82 122 (with more off-days)
The NBA’s seasonal calendar is poised for further evolution, driven by technology, labor dynamics, and global expansion. One likely trend is the further compression of the preseason, with more games scheduled in September to allow for a smoother transition into the regular season. The league may also explore hybrid scheduling, where some preseason games are played in traditional arenas while others take place in temporary venues (e.g., Las Vegas’s new arena or pop-up courts in Asia). Another possibility is the introduction of a "mini-season" in the offseason, where teams compete in a short, high-stakes tournament to generate additional revenue and fan interest.

Labor negotiations will continue to shape the start date, with players likely pushing for even more off-days in the 122-game season. The NBA’s international growth could also lead to more global preseason games, with potential stops in China, Japan, and the Middle East. Meanwhile, advancements in player tracking technology may allow the league to monitor workload more precisely, ensuring that the earlier start date doesn’t lead to increased injuries. The future of the NBA’s seasonal calendar will be defined by these innovations, with the start date becoming even more fluid and fan-centric.

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Conclusion

The question of when does the NBA season start is no longer a simple one. It’s a reflection of the league’s growth, its global ambitions, and its ability to reinvent itself. The 2024 season begins in earnest on October 22, but the narrative has been building for months—through preseason games, international matches, and media buzz. The NBA’s calendar is a testament to its adaptability, balancing tradition with innovation to keep fans engaged year-round. For purists, the regular season’s start date remains sacred. For global audiences, the preseason is where the real excitement begins. And for the league itself, the answer is simple: the NBA season starts whenever the next game is played.

As the league continues to evolve, the start date will remain a moving target, shaped by labor deals, media contracts, and fan demand. One thing is certain: the NBA’s seasonal calendar is no longer a static entity—it’s a dynamic, ever-changing reflection of the sport’s global dominance.

Comprehensive FAQs

Q: When does the NBA season start in 2024?

A: The 2024 NBA regular season begins on October 22, 2024, with the preseason running from September 26 to October 19. The league’s expanded schedule now includes a 122-game regular season, with the preseason serving as a longer warm-up period.

Q: Why is the NBA preseason starting earlier in 2024?

A: The earlier preseason is a direct result of the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, which introduced a 122-game regular season. The extended schedule requires more preparation time, so the preseason now begins in late September to distribute the workload and reduce player fatigue during the main event.

Q: Are there any international games in the 2024 NBA preseason?

A: Yes. The 2024 preseason includes games in London (September 26), Paris (October 3), and Las Vegas (October 11), with additional international matches expected in future seasons as the NBA expands globally.

Q: How does the NBA decide the start date for the regular season?

A: The start date is determined by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which outlines the season’s structure, including the number of games, preseason length, and regular season timing. The league also considers media contracts, player workload, and international scheduling to optimize the calendar.

Q: Will the NBA season start later in 2025 due to the Olympics?

A: Yes. The 2024 Paris Olympics (July 26–August 11, 2024) and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will impact the NBA schedule. The league typically adjusts the preseason and regular season start dates to accommodate player participation in Olympic basketball, with the 2025 season likely beginning in late October or early November.

Q: Can fans still get tickets for the first game of the 2024 NBA season?

A: Ticket availability varies by team, but most NBA arenas release season ticket packages in April 2024, with single-game tickets going on sale in June or July 2024. For international preseason games (e.g., London, Paris), tickets are typically released 3-6 months in advance through the NBA’s official website or local ticketing platforms.

Q: How does the NBA’s 122-game season affect the start date?

A: The 122-game season requires more off-days, so the league has extended the preseason to 12 games and pushed the start date earlier to distribute the workload. This change also allows for more international games and a smoother transition into the regular season without overloading players in October.

Q: Are there any plans to change the NBA season start date in the future?

A: Future changes will likely depend on labor negotiations, media deals, and global expansion. Potential adjustments could include a shorter preseason with more games in September, additional international matches, or a hybrid scheduling model that blends traditional and pop-up venues. The NBA’s calendar remains fluid, adapting to fan demand and league priorities.

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