NBA start date 2026–27
Kabayan, the NBA start date for 2026–27 was 20 October 2026 in the United States, which was already 21 October in Pinas. That’s from the NBA’s official schedule release. So the season is under way. If you still see a countdown to opening night, it’s old.
“NBA start” can mean different things: training camp, the first preseason game, opening night or your team’s first game. Opening night is the start of the regular season, the games that count in the standings. Preseason games come earlier and don’t count.
NBA opening night in Philippine time
The NBA’s opening-night announcement listed three Eastern Time starts on 20 October. US Eastern daylight time was 12 hours behind Manila that day:
| ET, 20 October | PHT, 21 October |
|---|---|
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 a.m. |
| 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. |
| 9:30 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. |
Careful: from early November the US switches to standard time, so the gap becomes 13 hours. A 7:30 p.m. ET game in December is 8:30 a.m. PHT. The Philippines doesn’t change its clocks, kaya nag-iiba ang oras ng laro dito kahit pareho ang oras sa US.
The stages of an NBA year
| Stage | Purpose | Does it count? |
|---|---|---|
| Training camp | Prepare the team | No games |
| Preseason | Exhibition games | No regular-season wins |
| Regular season | 82 games, seeding | Yes, the standings |
| Play-In | Last playoff places (7th–10th) | Qualification games |
| Playoffs and Finals | The champion | Best-of-seven series |
A Summer League title isn’t an NBA title, and an NBA Cup win isn’t the NBA Finals. Always name the competition.
NBA in-season tournament
The NBA Cup, still widely searched as the “NBA in-season tournament”, runs inside the early part of the season. For 2026–27, the NBA fixed 80 games per team in advance; the last two are set by Cup group results. The Cup championship game doesn’t count toward the 82-game record. Winning the Cup doesn’t guarantee a playoff place later.
NBA schedules: league, team and Lakers
For a full calendar, see our NBA schedule in PHT. Following one team? The LA Lakers NBA schedule (also searched as “NBA schedule Lakers”) is the most searched in Pinas: open the team view on NBA.com and check home or away, the venue and the PHT date. More on the team at NBA Lakers.
NBA schedule Philippines TV
Which games are on Philippine TV changes each season and each week, so check the local broadcaster’s listings and the game’s official viewing information. For streaming options, see NBA live streaming and NBA League Pass.
What preseason tells you
Exhibition games can show a new partnership or a young player’s bigger role, but coaches rest starters and test lineups, so the final score means little. Before a real game, use the NBA injury report and NBA lineups.
NBA prediction tomorrow (21+)
An NBA prediction for tomorrow’s game is an opinion, not a fact, especially early in the season when records are small. If you’re 21 or older, our NBA odds guide explains how prices work and ArenaPlus NBA live covers live games. Set a budget and read our responsible gambling page.
Quick answers
When did the NBA season start?
On 20 October 2026 in the US, 21 October 2026 in the Philippines.
How many games in the NBA season?
82 regular-season games per team.
Tara, the season is on. Laban, Pinoy fan!