NBA 2025-26 Schedule Revealed!
The NBA regular season for 2025-26 already has a start date! October 21st will mark the beginning of the action, with the current champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder, receiving the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant’s new team. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic, will face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. As the season approaches, excitement grows for the debuts, star matchups, reunions, and playoff rematches that await us. Many emblematic players will wear new jerseys, including Kevin Durant, Chris Paul returning to the LA Clippers, Myles Turner with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Kristaps Porzingis joining the Atlanta Hawks, promising unmissable reunions. In addition, the most promising rookies will compete against each other. Cooper Flagg, the first pick, will face Dylan Harper, the second pick, and star Victor Wembanyama in a first-week game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. Former Rutgers teammates Ace Bailey and Harper will also face off in December, when the Utah Jazz play against the Spurs. LeBron James, for his part, will begin his 23rd season, setting a new league record. These are just some of the exciting events that await us. Alofoke Deportes presents an analysis of the most anticipated matches of the season, including the opening day, the rematch clashes, the Christmas Day schedule, and key duels between superstars.Frequently Asked Questions About the NBA Schedule
When does the preseason start?
The Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Phoenix Suns will begin their training camps on September 24, ahead of preseason games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Melbourne, Australia; and China. The rest of the teams will begin camp on September 29.When is the opening day?The NBA regular season begins on October 21st. The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Houston Rockets, while the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors.When is the Emirates NBA Cup tournament, also known as the season tournament?
The third edition of the tournament will begin on October 31st. The group stage will end on November 28th, with the knockout rounds from December 9th to 10th. The semi-finals will be on December 13th and the final on December 16th.What is the Christmas calendar?There will be five games on December 25th:- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET)
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m. ET)
- Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m. ET)
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors (5 p.m. ET)
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET)
When and where is the All-Star Game?
The NBA All-Star Game will be held on February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers.
Opening Day Matchups
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
October 21, 7:30 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock Will the anguish of Thunder fans finally dissipate over Kevin Durant’s decision to leave Oklahoma City in 2016? His presence at the Paycom Center, while the franchise’s first championship banner is raised, will be a good test. Durant’s move to Houston could make the Rockets the toughest rival of the current champions in the Western Conference. The history between the new Rockets star and the Thunder adds a special appeal to this matchup.Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles LakersOctober 21, 10 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock One of the easiest ways to ensure a veteran star rests and is in top form for a game is for it to be the first of 82 games. Both 40-year-old LeBron James and 37-year-old Stephen Curry should be on the court for their 56th matchup. James has a slight regular season advantage (14-13). Curry has the playoff crown (17-11, 3 series to 2). It is unknown how many more matchups the basketball world will see between them. This one will generate a lot of attention and should be competitive, considering that both teams are expected to finish similarly in the conference.Unmissable Rematches and Reunions
Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix SunsNovember 24, 9:30 p.m. ET | Peacock Reunions usually work out well for Kevin Durant, but not so much for the opposing team. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has won every time he’s returned to play against a former team. Durant scored 34 points in his return to OKC as a Warriors player, 20 in a 134-117 victory over Golden State in his first game in the Bay, and 33 when Phoenix defeated the Nets in Brooklyn. Now, he leads a contender against a revamped roster in Phoenix.Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers
November 3, 7:00 p.m. ET The most impactful move of the summer was when the Bucks, with no cap space, signed center Myles Turner out of nowhere, renouncing Damian Lillard and extending the remaining $113 million owed in the last two years of his contract. With Turner now on the team that was eliminated from the playoffs by the Pacers in the last two seasons, more fuel has been added to what has quietly become one of the most intense rivalries in the NBA.
