NBA media day for 28 of the 30 teams is Monday, September 28, 2026, and training camps open the next day, Tuesday, September 29. The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks started a week early, with camps opening September 22, because they play each other in Macao during the preseason. The preseason begins Saturday, October 3, and the regular season opens Tuesday, October 20.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Sept. 22 | Rockets media day; Rockets and Mavericks training camps open |
| Friday, Sept. 25 | Mavericks media day |
| Monday, Sept. 28 | Media day for the other 28 teams |
| Tuesday, Sept. 29 | All remaining training camps open |
| Saturday, Oct. 3 | Preseason begins |
| Oct. 9 and 11 | NBA China Games, Rockets vs. Mavericks in Macao |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Opening night, regular season begins |
| Thursday, Feb. 11, 2027 | Trade deadline |
| Feb. 19 to 21, 2027 | All-Star Weekend, Phoenix |
| Sunday, April 11, 2027 | Regular season ends, all 30 teams play |
Why Two Teams Started Early
Teams playing preseason games outside North America are allowed to open camp a week ahead of the rest of the league. This year that is the Rockets and Mavericks, who meet twice in Macao on October 9 and 11. Their players could report September 21, with camps opening September 22. Everyone else could report September 28 and open September 29.
Media Day
Media day is the unofficial start of the season. Every player and coach is available to reporters, team photos are taken, and the first practice follows the next morning. Each team sets its own start time, so the exact hour varies by club. The Bulls, for example, hold theirs at 11 a.m. CT on September 28 and open the preseason at home against the Suns on October 7.
Preseason
Preseason games run from October 3 through the middle of the month, with each team playing roughly four to six exhibitions. The China Games in Macao are the headline international games. Preseason results do not count toward the standings, and rotations are typically shortened in the final week before opening night.
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