When is the 2024-25 NBA schedule expected to come out? Important dates, first game and more

The 2024-2025 NBA season is around the corner as the league is slated to return on October 22. The new NBA season will feature 82 regular season games, an In-Season tournament for all 30 teams, and special game days scattered throughout the year.

The conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is likely to be followed by the release of the official schedule for all the teams sometime in August. The NBA had announced its schedule on August 20 for the 2021-2022 season, and August 17 for the 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 seasons.

The preseason will start on October 4 with games in Abu Dhabi and Montreal, Canada. The Abu Dhabi games will be between the last two NBA champions Boston Celtics, and Denver Nuggets.

The NBA has already posted some of the key dates for the 2024-2025 season:

Oct. 4 & 6: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 (Celtics vs. Nuggets)
Oct. 6: NBA Canada Series (Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards | Montreal)
Oct. 12-13: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend (Springfield, MA)
Oct. 22: Start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season
Nov. 2: NBA Mexico City Game 2024 (Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards)
Nov. 12: Emirates NBA Cup begins
Dec. 3: Emirates NBA Cup Group Stage concludes
Dec. 10-11: Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals
Dec. 14: Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals
Dec. 17: Emirates NBA Cup Championship
Jan. 23 & Jan. 25, 2025: NBA Paris Games 2025 (Spurs vs. Pacers)
Feb. 6, 2025: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)
April 13: NBA Regular Season ends
April 15-18: NBA Play-In Tournament
April 19: NBA Playoffs begin

According to those dates, next season will start two days earlier than last year while the playoffs will be a day sooner than last season.

NBA’s Civic Engagement Date and other special game days

Entering another election year, the NBA is expected to hold zero games on election day on November 5 as they encourage fans, coaches, and players to exercise their right to vote.

In the 2020 season, 23 team arenas were used as voting facilities on election day. The election venues this year remain to be seen. The NBA will also continue to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day during the 2024-25 NBA season on January 20, 2025.