When Does the 2021 NBA Season Start? Key Dates and Schedule Details

As a longtime NBA analyst and season ticket holder, I’ve learned that nothing gets basketball fans buzzing like the official release of the league schedule. This year, the anticipation has been palpable—and for good reason. The 2021 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most unique in recent memory, not just because of its timing, but because of the sheer resilience it represents. I still remember sitting in my home office last December, refreshing the league’s official site every few minutes, waiting for those first key dates to drop. And when they did, it felt like a collective sigh of relief echoed across the basketball world. The season officially tipped off on December 22, 2021—a date that might seem late to casual observers, but for those of us who follow the league closely, it made perfect sense given the unprecedented delays caused by the pandemic.

Let’s rewind a bit. The 2019-2020 season concluded in October 2020 after the Orlando bubble experiment, which, love it or hate it, was a monumental achievement in sports logistics. That left a very short turnaround before the next campaign. In fact, the gap between seasons was just 71 days—the shortest in league history outside of lockout years. I’ve spoken with trainers and players off the record, and let me tell you, the physical toll was no joke. Many stars logged heavy minutes in the bubble, and rushing into another season raised legitimate concerns about injuries and fatigue. Still, the NBA had a TV deal to honor, a fanbase to re-engage, and frankly, a financial imperative to push forward. The December 22 start wasn’t just a random choice—it was the product of intense negotiation between the league and the players’ union, balancing health protocols with commercial realities.

Now, if you’re like me, you probably marked your calendar for more than just opening night. The schedule release in early December outlined a 72-game season, down from the usual 82, which frankly I didn’t mind. Fewer games often mean higher stakes and less load management—something I’ve criticized teams for in the past. Key dates included the March 7-10 All-Star break in Atlanta, which, I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings about. On one hand, it’s a fan favorite; on the other, squeezing it into a compressed schedule felt risky. Then there’s the Play-In Tournament, returning after its debut in the bubble, scheduled for May 18-21. I’m a fan of this format—it keeps more teams in the hunt deeper into the season and reduces outright tanking, which has plagued the league in years past.

The quote from Chambers, “We change, you work harder,” really resonates here. I see that mindset reflected in how teams approached this unusual calendar. Coaches had to adapt on the fly, players had to ramp up conditioning in record time, and front offices navigated a minefield of health and safety protocols. Take the Brooklyn Nets, for example—they entered the season as title favorites but faced relentless scheduling quirks, like three games in four nights against playoff-caliber opponents. That’s the kind of challenge that separates contenders from pretenders. And Chambers’ notion of a “blessing in disguise” rings true when you look at emerging teams like the Phoenix Suns, who used the condensed timeline to build chemistry faster and make their stunning Finals run.

From a viewer’s perspective, the league did a solid job with national TV slots. Christmas Day, as always, featured five marquee matchups—about 10 hours of basketball, for those counting. I made a point to watch every minute, something of a personal tradition. The Lakers versus Mavericks opener that day drew around 7.5 million viewers, a strong number given the circumstances. And let’s not forget the mid-April trade deadline, which fell on April 9—a personal highlight for me, as trade speculation is one of my guilty pleasures. This season’s deadline saw a flurry of moves, partly because the compressed schedule forced teams to make decisions earlier than usual.

Looking back, the 2021 season was a testament to the NBA’s ability to innovate under pressure. The play-in tournament, the careful balancing of rest and competition, the embrace of advanced health protocols—it all added up to a product that, while not perfect, delivered excitement when we needed it most. As the playoffs approach, set to begin on May 22, I’m optimistic about the quality of basketball we’ll see. The league has shown it can adapt, and frankly, I think some of these changes—like the shorter regular season—should stick around. So mark your calendars, set those reminders, and maybe, like me, clear your schedule for those can’t-miss primetime games. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in the NBA, the show always goes on—even when the timeline gets turned upside down.