NBA season 2024/25 live: the most important dates at a glance

The NBA season 2024/25 is in full swing! When did it start, when do the playoffs start, and when do the finals take place?

The NBA is back from the summer break, and the new season is just around the corner. Following the USA’s Olympic triumph, basketball fans are once again turning their attention to the United States, where the 2024/25 NBA season kicked off at the end of October.

In addition to the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, the Denver Nuggets, and last year’s finalists, the Dallas Mavericks, are also among the top contenders for the title. While enjoying the basketball action, fans can amplify their entertainment by exploring platforms like Stay Casino. Whether you’re following your favourite teams or unwinding between games, Stay Casino offers a wide range of games and promotions to keep the excitement going.

But when exactly does the NBA season start? When do the playoffs begin, and when do the finals take place? Here’s an overview of all the key dates to keep on your radar.

NBA season 2024/25: When do training camps start and when are the preseason games?

The training camps officially began on 1 October, but six days earlier the window opened for the teams that played exhibition games outside the USA. During the preseason (4 to 18 October), the NBA teams played four to five games.

NBA: When does the regular season start in 2024?

The opening game between defending champions Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks was scheduled for 23 October 2024 at 7:15 PM.

When does the NBA In-Season Tournament 2024 start and end?

The In-Season Tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup, starts on 12 November 2024. The semi-finals will take place on 14 December, with the final three days later. The three knockout matches will be held in Las Vegas.

NBA: What Christmas Games are there in 2024?

The NBA continues to play on Christmas too! The Christmas Games have a long tradition in the NBA – the league usually schedules the most prestigious duels on Christmas Day to lure fans in front of their TV sets during the holidays. For basketball enthusiasts who love gaming, this festive season is the perfect time to immerse themselves in NBA 2K25 on the ps4 video games, where they can recreate iconic matchups or build their dream teams.

A particularly attractive Christmas game will take place in Dallas between the Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves. In the rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, Anthony Edwards seeks revenge for the 1-4 loss and Luka Doncic‘s trash talk. Fans can relive these intense rivalries virtually on the PS4, taking control of players like Doncic or Edwards and rewriting history with their skills.

• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, 6 p.m.
• Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 11 p.m.
• Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 2:00 a.m. (on the night of 25 December)
• Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 4:00 a.m.

NBA season 24/25: When is the deadline for trades?

The trade deadline is on 6 February 2025 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Another important deadline is the Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline (1 March) – if a team wants to use an unsigned player in the playoffs, that player must have been released by his previous team on or before 1 March.

When does the NBA All Star Game 2025 take place?

The All Star Game will be held on 16 February 2025 at the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center.

NBA Playoffs 2025: When does the postseason start and when are the finals?

The play-in tournament, in which eight teams play for the four remaining playoff spots, will take place from 15 to 18 April 2024. The playoffs start a day later, with each pairing played in a best-of-seven format – below is an overview of the dates for the individual rounds.

• 19 April 2025: Start of the first playoff round
• 5/6 May 2025: Start of the Conference Semifinals (possibly brought forward to 3/4 May)
• 28 May 2025: Start of the Conference Finals
• 5 June 2025: First game of the NBA Finals

NBA 2024: When do the final rosters for the regular season have to be set?

The rosters with which the teams will enter the regular season must be finalised by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on 21 October 2024.

Victor Wembanyama included? The greatest NBA players in history

This year’s number one pick in the NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama, is considered a huge talent and wants to become one of the greatest in the history of basketball. Physically, he has already achieved that, because the Frenchman measures 2.24 metres. So does Wembanyama make it into the top 15 tallest NBA professionals in history? ran takes a look at the basketball giants.

15th place: Peter John Ramos

Height: 2.22 metres (US: 7 foot 3 inches)

Team: Washington Wizards (2004-2005)

Nationality: Puerto Rico

Stats: 11 points and 4 rebounds in 6 games

10th place (shared): Priest Lauderdale

• Height: 2.24 metres (US size: 7 foot 4 inches)

• Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1996-1997), Denver Nuggets (1997-1998)

• Nationality: USA

• Stats: 255 points and 143 rebounds in 74 games

10th place (shared): Boban Marjanovic

• Height: 2.24 metres (US measurement: 7 foot 4 inches – other sources such as ‘Sporting News’ write 7 foot 3 inches)

• Teams: San Antonio Spurs (2015-2016), Detroit Pistons (2016-2018), Los Angeles Clippers (2018-2019), Philadelphia 76ers (2019), Dallas Mavericks (2019-2022), Houston Rockets (since 2022)

Nationality: Serbia

Stats: 1,709 points and 1,107 rebounds in 296 games

10th place (shared): Ralph Sampson

Height: 2.24 metres (US size: 7 foot 4 inches)

• Teams: Houston Rockets (1983-1987), Golden State Warriors (1987-1989), Sacramento Kings (1989-1991), Washington Bullets (1991-1992)

• Nationality: USA

• Stats: 7,039 points and 4,011 rebounds in 456 games

10th place (shared): Rik Smits

• Height: 2.24 metres (US size: 7 foot 4 inches)

• Team: Indiana Pacers (1988-2000)

• Nationality: Netherlands

• Stats: 12,871 points and 5,277 rebounds in 867 games

10th place (shared): Mark Eaton

• Height: 2.24 metres (US size: 7 foot 4 inches)

• Team: Utah Jazz (1982-1993)

• Nationality: USA

• Stats: 5,216 points and 6,939 rebounds in 875 games

7th place (shared): Sim Bhullar

• Height: 2.26 metres (US size: 7 foot 5 inches)

• Team: Sacramento Kings (2015)

• Nationality: Canada

• Stats: 2 points and 1 rebound in 3 games

7th place (shared): Pavel Podkolzin

• Height: 2.26 metres (US size: 7 foot 5 inches)

• Team: Dallas Mavericks (2004-2006)

• Nationality: Russian

• Stats: 4 points and 9 rebounds in 6 games

7th place (tied): Chuck Nevitt

• Height: 2.26 metres (US size: 7 foot 5 inches)

• Teams: Houston Rockets (1982-1983, 1988-1990), Los Angeles Lakers (1984-1985), Detroit Pistons (1985-1988), Chicago Bulls (1991), San Antonio Spurs (1993)

• Nationality: USA

• Stats: 251 points and 239 rebounds in 155 games

3rd place (shared): Shawn Bradley

• Height: 2.29 metres (US size: 7 foot 6 inches)

• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1993-1995), New Jersey Nets (1995-1997), Dallas Mavericks (1997-2005)

• Nationalities: USA, Germany

• Stats: 6,752 points and 5,268 rebounds in 832 games

3rd place (shared): Yao Ming

• Height: 2.29 metres (US size: 7 foot 6 inches)

• Team: Houston Rockets (2002-2011)

• Nationality: China

• Stats: 9,196 points and 4,467 rebounds in 481 games

3rd place (shared): Slavko Vranes

• Height: 2.29 metres (US size: 7 foot 6 inches – other sources such as ‘Sporting News’ write 7 foot 5 inches)

• Team: Portland Trail Blazers (2004)

• Nationality: Montenegro

• Stats: 0 points and 0 rebounds in 1 game

3rd place (shared): Tacko Fall

• Height: 2.29 metres (US size: 7 foot 6 inches)

• Teams: Boston Celtics (2019-2021), Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-2022)

• Nationality: Senegal

• Stats: 82 points and 90 rebounds in 37 games

1st place (shared): Manute Bol

• Height: 2.31 metres (US size: 7 foot 7 inches)

• Teams: Washington Bullets (1985-1988, 1994), Golden State Warriors (1988-1990, 1994), Philadelphia 76ers (1990-1993, 1994), Miami Heat (1993-1994)

• Nationalities: Sudan, USA

• Stats: 1,599 points and 2,647 rebounds in 625 games

1st place (shared): Gheorghe Muresan

• Height: 2.31 metres (US size: 7 foot 7 inches)

• Teams: Washington Bullets (1993-1998), New Jersey Nets (1998-2000)

• Nationalities: Romanian, American

• Stats: 3,020 points and 1,957 rebounds in 307 games

NBA season 2024/25: Will regular season games be played outside the USA and Canada?

Yes, three NBA games will be played outside the two countries. On 2 November 2024, the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards will face each other in Mexico City, and on 23 and 25 January 2025, the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers will meet in Paris.