NBA Schedule

Understanding the NBA Scheduling Formula Before the 2023-2024 season, 1230 regular season games got lined up, with each team playing 82 games. This breakdown looked something like this: 16 games against division opponents. 24 or 12 games against conference opponents, based on a five-year rotation. 30 games against the opposite conference’s teams. However, the 2023-2024 season shifted gears with 1,200 regular season and tournament games planned, resulting in 80 games per team. Yet, teams are still playing 82 games. The math? A mix of regular season games and in-season tournament games. Court Availability Is Key Every team, roughly a month before the preceding regular season concludes, provides the NBA with a list. It lists 50 available dates for their home court and specific weekdays for telecasts. Taking Breaks Seriously Certain days see no NBA action: Christmas eve The all-star game NCAA championship game Addressing Conflicts NHL games can create scheduling challenges, especially if teams share courts. These must be addressed. Balancing Broadcast Needs Game times may shift. The reason? Meeting the needs of NBA’s national TV partners like ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Spotlighting marquee matchups can influence the final schedule.

Matt Winick, responsible for shaping the NBA schedule for over 20 seasons, stepped down in September 2014. This man used an intricate system to value the dates provided by franchises. A point system, if you will, that encouraged availability. On average, teams played 3.5 games weekly, spanning 165-170 days for the regular season. However, Evan Wasch and Tom Carelli, the contemporary torchbearers, have delved into the availability across 29 arenas. Their mission? Reducing instances where a fatigued team squares off against a revitalized opponent. From the 2017-18 season, the schedule stretched to 176 days, marking an end to playing four games in five nights.

Covid-19 redefined the schedule: 42 Intra-Conference Games 30 Inter-Conference Games Also, the Play-in Tournament was born, giving teams a shot at the last two playoff spots. In-Season Tournament: The Game Changer New to the 2023-24 season, the in-season tournament involves all 30 teams. And every win or loss here impacts the regular season record.

Beyond the prestige of the NBA Cup, players stand to gain financially. Rewards range from $500,000 for winners to $50,000 for quarterfinal exits. An MVP title and an all-tournament team selection are also on the cards.

The tournament is initiated with round-robin group play. Then, a single-elimination format kicks in for the last eight teams. Teams are grouped based on their previous season’s performance, ensuring fairness.