NBA schedule: Important dates for the 2024-25 regular season, Hall of Fame info, NBA Cup, playoffs, and more

After the 2024 Paris Olympics, we’re officially in the dead zone of the NBA calendar. As you’ll see below, training camps will begin in October for all teams except the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. They’ll begin practice on September 25 as they kick off their preseason schedule early with two games in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The NBA also released its report Full 2024-25 regular season schedule on Thursday. Here are the key dates for the upcoming season, including some regular-season matchups you can get your popcorn ready for.

Important NBA dates to know

September 24: Media Day for the Celtics and Nuggets

Boston and Denver are starting a week earlier than everyone else, as they have to begin their preseason schedule before everyone else with two games in Abu Dhabi.

25 September: First day of practice for Celtics, Nuggets
September 30: Media Day for the remaining 28 teams
October 1: First day of training camp for the remaining 28 teams
October 4, 6: Celtics vs Nuggets in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024
12-13 October: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend

The 13 members for the Class of ’24 will be: Chauncey Billups (player), Vince Carter (player), Michael Cooper (player), Walter Davis (player), Bo Ryan (coach), Charles Smith (coach), Semon Augustus (player), Dick Barnett (player), Harley Redin (coach), Mitchell Timms (player), Doug Collins (contributor), Herb Simon (contributor), Jerry West (contributor, formerly distinguished as a player and member of the 1960 Olympic team).

October 18: Preseason ends
October 22: Opening night of the 2024–25 regular season

First up, the Boston Celtics will get their 2024 championship rings before hosting the New York Knicks. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the nightcap will feature the Minnesota Timberwolves facing the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers have both suffered disappointing first-round playoff exits due to injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. Both organisations will hope that better days are ahead, and they will kick off the new campaign against each other in Philadelphia.

After more than two decades of sharing the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) with the Lakers, the Clippers will finally open their new building this season. The Clippers will play their first regular season game inside the Intuit Dome, which cost more than $2 billion to build, against the Phoenix Suns.

Click Here Click for an explanation of the group pairings and NBA Cup format. Here To view information on all nationally televised NBA Cup group stage games.

Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors and join the Dallas Mavericks this summer wasn’t surprising. Still, it will be strange to see him in a new uniform this season. He’ll make his first return to the Bay Area on November 12, which should be an emotional occasion.

According to The Athletic, the Celtics and Mavericks will meet for the first time since the 2024 Finals on Jan. 25 in Dallas. They will then play again just a few weeks later on Feb. 6 in Boston.