Key Dates Announced for the 2025-26 NBA Season
The NBA has unveiled significant details regarding the upcoming season, including important matchups for Opening Night and holiday games.
Key Dates Announced for the 2025-26 NBA Season
The NBA, alongside its major broadcasting partners, has released important information regarding the commencement of the 2025-26 season, including notable matchups for the opening week and during holidays.
When is the NBA Schedule Released?
The NBA revealed that the 2025-26 schedule will be made public this week. Viewers who tuned into Good Morning America and TODAY on Tuesday were shown previews of key early matchups. The complete schedule, detailing the dates and rivals for each team’s games (80 out of 82), will be revealed on Thursday.
Opening Night Fixtures
The season’s opening will take place on October 21, 2025, featuring:
- Houston Rockets playing against Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Golden State Warriors facing Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET.
Opening Night will see Kevin Durant return to Oklahoma City, witnessing his former team raise their NBA Championship banner. In another highlighted match, Stephen Curry and LeBron James will face off in a star-studded clash.
Holiday Matchups
The NBA Christmas Day schedule features five games across ABC and ESPN, assuring high-profile matchups. This includes a rematch between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, and a game involving Cooper Flagg with the new-look Mavericks facing the Golden State Warriors.
MLK Day
Coming up on January 19, 2026, a quadruple-header will occur on NBC and Peacock, featuring matchups such as the Milwaukee Bucks against the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Past Schedule Release Dates
- 2024-25: Aug. 15, 2024
- 2023-24: Aug. 17, 2023
- 2022-23: Aug. 17, 2022
- 2021-22: Aug. 20, 2021
Fans are eagerly anticipating the season highlights as more details continue to unfold!
