It feels like the Thunder were just crowned NBA Champions, but it's already time to get ready for the next NBA season.
Oklahoma City will begin its first title defense in October. This NBA season is sure to be one to remember. We will hopefully have a full season of Victor Wembanyama with the Spurs, along with the addition of No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper. Across the state, the Mavericks have a new star in No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. The Rockets won the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and the Celtics will have to figure out how to manage without Jayson Tatum.
A new league year brings with it a clean slate for every team, whether they are looking to turn around their fates from last year or trying to recapture the glory from their first championship.
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Here is more on the NBA's opening night schedule for the 2025-2026 season.
When does the NBA season start?
The 2025-2026 NBA season will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
There will be two games played that night, both airing on NBC and Peacock. Over the past two seasons, the NBA season has begun on the fourth Tuesday in October. Due to the 2025 calendar, the new season will start a week earlier, on the third Tuesday in October.
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Opening night schedule for 2025-26 NBA season
Opening night of the 2025-26 season features a doubleheader of high-profile matchups.
Similar to last season, the title defense will begin early for the reigning champs. The Thunder will host the Rockets as they will likely raise a championship banner in front of Durant, who spent the first nine years of his career with the franchise. Then in the second game, Steph Curry and the Warriors will go on the road to take on LeBron James, playing in his 23rd season, and the Lakers.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Tuesday, October 21 | Rockets at Thunder | 7:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Tuesday, October 21 | Warriors at Lakers | 10:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
Opening night festivities will air on NBC, with games tipping off around 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
The first matchup will see the Thunder raising their championship banner. Oklahoma City will begin the season with a Western Conference matchup against Houston. The Thunder and the Rockets finished as the top two teams in the conference last year. While OKC went on to win the NBA finals over Indiana, Houston was bounced in the playoffs by Golden State in the first round. The Thunder will be running back much of the same crew as last year. The Rockets' main offseason additions included Durant, Clint Capela, and Dorian Finney-Smith.
In a blockbuster trade, Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is headed to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, per @shamscharania pic.twitter.com/0aSBhjKfki
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 22, 2025
In the second game, the Warriors will look to fare better this year, running it back with largely the same team. Golden State didn't add any free agents and only lost Kevon Looney, who signed with the Pelicans. The Warriors made the playoffs as the 7-seed and knocked off the 2-seed Rockets before losing the series 4-1 to the Timberwolves. The Lakers re-signed Luka Doncic, who has been losing weight this offseason and getting in shape to go on a revenge tour. L.A. also added Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, with expectations high for J.J. Redick's second year of coaching.
Our digital cover star, Luka Doncic, ready to take his game (and the Lakers) to new levels of dominance. And this summer shred has been years in the making.https://t.co/aB19DY7rrL pic.twitter.com/bjVsf1ampI
— Men's Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) July 28, 2025