The NBA schedule is out for the 2025-26 season, and in a surprising twist, all groups will play 82 video games, with 3-4 matchups in opposition to opponents from their convention, and two video games in opposition to groups from the other convention.
Simply kidding, that’s how the NBA schedule works yearly. The one actual intrigue within the schedule announcement is seeing the variety of nationwide TV video games your workforce will get, what number of back-to-backs they’re saddled with, and when the lengthy highway journeys fall. The league leaked components of the schedule drip-by-drip, and now you may discover the total 80-game slate for each workforce within the league (with two extra video games introduced after the NBA Cup outcomes).
It’s setting as much as be an superior NBA season. The league has seen seven distinctive champions within the final seven years, the longest stretch in historical past. Will the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder win all of it once more to start out a possible dynasty, or will the NBA’s parity streak proceed? There are so thrilling storylines heading into the season. For now, listed below are 5 schedule quirks that jumped out of us after the 2025-26 slate was launched.
The Nuggets and Warriors obtained screwed on back-to-backs
There are 5 groups with a league-high 16 back-t0-backs this season, however not all back-to-backs are created equal. Owen Phillips of the superb F5 publication highlighted how relaxation benefit breaks down, ie what number of occasions a workforce is a on a back-to-back vs. what number of occasions their opponent enters on a back-to-back. Underneath this mild, the Philadelphia 76ers’ 16 back-t0-backs don’t appear as daunting, as a result of they’re really dealing with opponents on a back-to-back 18 occasions. The most important loser right here is the Nuggets, who will likely be on a back-to-back 16 occasions this season whereas dealing with opponents on a back-to-back solely 12 occasions. The Warriors are -3 on this division too, which is horrifying for such an previous workforce. The Mavs and Bucks have 4 main relaxation benefit video games this season, most within the league. Regulate your predictions accordingly.
The NBA’s 7 least related groups, based on the nationwide TV schedule
The Lakers, Thunder, Knicks, and Warriors are tied for probably the most nationwide TV video games this season with 34 every. I’m extra within the groups the league doesn’t need you to see. The NBA has lastly moved off showcasing Zion Williamson and LaMelo Ball after years of damage bother for each younger stars. The Raptors have an enormous and passionate fanbase, however nobody needs to see a workforce that performs inside a shoebox each evening as a result of they haven’t any capturing. The Bulls solely getting three nationwide TV video games is simply pathetic: Chicago is the biggest market within the league that solely has one franchise, the Bulls lead the league in attendance mainly yearly, and the workforce is so irrelevant that the NBA is protecting them hidden. Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf have to promote this workforce to homeowners who really care in regards to the product yesterday.
The Clippers lead the league in bobblehead nights
Pay attention, I like Kris Dunn as a lot as the subsequent basketball nerd, and I wrote a function on him from the 2016 NBA Draft Mix to show it. Does Kris Dunn actually need his personal bobblehead evening? I don’t suppose so, however when you have got the richest proprietor within the league, he can do enjoyable stuff like this for followers. Six bobblehead nights in a single season is simply wild, however I find it irresistible.
The Pelicans have the toughest schedule within the league and no first-round choose
Welp. The Pelicans made probably the most reckless commerce of the offseason by dealing their unprotected 2026 first-round choose to the Atlanta Hawks for the suitable to draft Derik Queen on the finish of the lottery. Queen is already out for months with a torn wrist ligament, and the schedule launch received’t make Pelicans followers really feel any higher. New Orleans has the toughest schedule within the league based on Constructive Residual, which takes into consideration the over/beneath win complete line of each workforce on the schedule and bakes in relaxation benefits. The Pelicans knew life wouldn’t be simple within the Western Convention this yr, as a result of it by no means is, however that is notably discouraging. I actually suppose the Pelicans may very well be giving up a top-three choose in a loaded 2026 draft to the Hawks.
The Celtics have manner too many nationwide TV video games
One challenge the NBA has had in recent times is showcasing groups with injured stars on nationwide TV. You possibly can’t predict accidents, however with the Celtics, you completely can. Jayson Tatum is out for the yr rehabbing a torn Achilles, and but Boston nonetheless will get 25 nationwide TV video games. That is absurd. I do know the Celtics have an enormous fanbase, however this workforce has each incentive to tank late within the season if issues aren’t going nicely earlier than they reset issues round Tatum when he returns a yr from now. These video games needs to be break up up between the Spurs, Magic, and Pistons, none of whom make the top-10 in nationwide TV video games.
