What to Know About the New NBA Season
The 2017-18 season is the first since the league moved its seasons from the winter to the summer to avoid conflicts with the NFL.
The NBA’s opening game is against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Oct. 28.
The new season begins with several opening contests, including NBA Finals Game 1 on May 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors. It is followed two days later by the first-ever NBA China All-Star Game, part of a series that will showcase NBA players from China.
The NBA will have five teams for a total of 50 players and coaches. It will have four conference divisions this season.
The schedule is the same for the first two months of the regular season.
Here are five things to know about the new season.
The new season begins on Nov. 19, with the first of six games. Each game begins with a free telecast on ESPN, or on the NBA’s free streaming service, WatchESPN.
The full NBA season is 72 games long, with five playoff rounds. The Finals begin in June.
The starting times for each game are different for Eastern and Western Conference teams. The Eastern Conference starts its slate with games on Thursday, while the Western Conference starts with games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The NBA did not have any players on the active roster last season for the first five weeks of the season. All players are eligible for the playoffs this season.
The new season also marks the debut of the ESPN NBA Tournament, which will be broadcast on an additional channel and on ESPN.
Here are five things to know about the new season.
2017-18 Season Schedule
The season kicks off with the NBA’s summer opener on Oct. 28, when the Cleveland Cavaliers meet the Warriors in the opener of the NBA Finals.
The first regular season game will be played on Friday, Nov. 4. That game, between the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies, will be played at the Pepsi Center in Denver. That game also marks the first playoff game for any of the new teams, including the Nuggets, Lakers, Bulls, Magic, Mavericks, Spurs and Pistons.
The season then opens on Monday, Nov