When Does the 2022-23 NBA Season Start? Schedule, Key Dates & Tickets
The eve of a new NBA season is finally upon us. The 2022-23 NBA season start is here, and the fun is about to begin. Of course, the opening night of the season is just one of the many big events on the NBA calendar and not the only time that fans want to pick up NBA tickets and attend a game in person. To ensure you don’t miss any events or opportunities to check out an important game in person, let’s take a look at the key dates and biggest games during the 2022-23 NBA season.
Opening Night, October 18
The 2022-23 NBA season officially kicks off on October 18. While there are only two games scheduled on that date, they are both marquee games. The season begins with a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. That game is followed by the Golden State Warriors hosting the Los Angeles Lakers. Those four teams have the honor of getting the spotlight on opening night. Most NBA teams will begin their new season the following night on Wednesday, October 19, when there are 12 games on the schedule.
Heat vs. Suns in Mexico City, December 17
The NBA will follow in the NFL’s footsteps by scheduling games in foreign countries this year. The first such game is on December 17, when the Miami Heat will play the San Antonio Spurs in Mexico City. This will be the 31st NBA game in Mexico and hosted at Mexico City Arena.
Christmas Day Quintuple Header, December 25
As usual, the NBA owns the sports world on Christmas Day with five games on the schedule in back-to-back time frames. While Christmas falls on a Sunday in 2022, most of the NFL’s games that weekend will be played on Saturday, leaving just three NFL games on Christmas Day, allowing the NBA to remain in the spotlight.
The NBA’s Christmas schedule begins with the Philadelphia 76ers playing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden at noon. That’s followed by the Los Angeles Lakers visiting the Dallas Mavericks at 2:30. The 5:00 game will feature the Boston Celtics hosting the Milwaukee Bucks. In primetime, the Golden State Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzlies at 8:00. Finally, the Phoenix Suns visit the Denver Nuggets in the nightcap, which starts at 10:30.
Bulls vs. Pistons in Paris, January 19
The NBA heads to Europe in January with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons renewing their rivalry in Paris. To accommodate for the time difference, the game will start on Thursday, January 19, at 3:00 EST. The game will be played at Accor Arena, which will be an important venue during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
All-Star Game, February 19
The NBA will take a break in mid-February with the 2023 All-Star Game scheduled for Sunday, February 19, one week after the Super Bowl. This year’s game will be played at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. As usual, there will be all-star festivities all weekend leading up to the All-Star Game, including the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Competition, and Dunk Contest.
Regular Season Ends, April 9
The 2022-23 NBA regular season comes to a conclusion on Sunday, April 9. There are 15 games scheduled on this day, putting all 30 teams in action. This means that the final playoff spots and seeding could be determined by what happens in games played on the final day of the season.
Play-In Tournament, April 11-14
There is just one day between the final day of the regular season and the start of the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. The Play-In Tournament to decide the final playoff spots in the field of 16 will last four days. This event has become a big hit with NBA fans since it started in 2020 and will be continued in 2023.
Playoffs Begin, April 15
Once spring arrives, the NBA refuses to rest. One day after the Play-In Tournament ends, the main event begins with the start of the playoffs. While it’s too soon to know what teams will be in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, we know that the slate gets wiped clean on April 15. All 16 teams that make it into the field will have a chance to play their way to the NBA Finals and win a championship.
NBA Finals Begin, June 1
Speaking of the NBA Finals, they are scheduled to begin on June 1. No matter what happens in the playoffs leading up to this point, Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on June 1. If the series goes to seven games, Game 7 of the NBA Finals will be held on June 18. However, the soonest the NBA season could end is on June 9, which is when Game 4 of the finals will be played.
2023 NBA Draft, June 22
It could be a short turnaround between the end of the 2022-23 NBA season and the start of preparations for the 2023-24 campaign. The 2023 NBA Draft is set to be held on June 22, which is just a few days after a possible Game 7 of the NBA Finals.