The NBA has officially unveiled its 2025/26 regular season schedule, with 80 of each team’s 82 games confirmed. The remaining two matchups will be determined during the Emirates NBA Cup group play, set for Friday, October 31 – Friday, November 28. These final games will take place from Tuesday, December 9 – Monday, December 15, based on group stage results.
Opening night is set for Monday, October 20, marking the start of another action-packed season featuring star-studded matchups, a revamped NBA Cup, and the race for the coveted MVP award.
NBA Cup: Group play and key dates
The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 will once again bring added excitement early in the season. All group play games — dubbed “Cup Nights” — will contribute to both the regular season and the tournament standings. The winners of each group will advance to the knockout rounds, culminating in the NBA Cup Final.
Group Play: October 31 – November 28
Unassigned Schedule Dates: December 9 – December 15
Key Season Dates to Remember
Opening Night: October 20, 2025
NBA Cup Group Play Start: October 31, 2025
Christmas Day Games: December 25, 2025 (five marquee matchups, including Rockets vs. Lakers and Warriors vs. Mavericks)
NBA Trade Deadline: February 5, 2026
NBA All-Star Weekend: February 13–15, 2026 (Los Angeles, California)
EuroBasket 2025 – A Preview of NBA Stars
Before the NBA season tips off, more than 30 league players will compete at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 from August 27 – September 14. Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Alperen Şengün (Türkiye), and Franz Wagner (Germany) are among the big names representing their nations, giving fans a glimpse of their form ahead of the NBA campaign.
Potential winner of the NBA MVP in 2025-26
The MVP race promises fireworks with multiple legitimate contenders:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) – Reigning MVP and Finals MVP, fresh off a scoring title and championship run.
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) – Last season’s triple-double machine and three-time MVP, still a dominant all-around force.
Luka Doncic (Lakers) – Slimmer, quicker, and ready for his first full season in LA as the franchise cornerstone.
Tip-Off Night Matchups
The 2025–26 season will open with a blockbuster doubleheader:
Thunder vs. Rockets – Oklahoma City’s ring ceremony night.
Lakers vs. Warriors – Steph Curry and LeBron James headline an Olympic gold medalist showdown.
With the schedule set, NBA fans can mark their calendars for a season packed with rivalries, international stars, and the high-stakes drama of both the playoffs and the Emirates NBA Cup. The road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy begins in just over two months — and it promises to be unforgettable.