The 2024-2025 NBA season begins on Tuesday, October 22nd, and on August 15th, basketball fans were treated to a fun schedule release from several of the Association’s teams. Kudos to the Minnesota Timberwolves social media team for releasing the best schedule release video. Today, I’ll detail how the schedule impacts fantasy basketball and break down some top games to watch during the regular season.
📆 Important Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Schedule You Should Know
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Start of the trial designs: Thursday, August 22nd (next Thursday!!)
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Start of live drafts: Thursday, August 22
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End of live drafts: Sunday, March 9
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Game start date: Tuesday, October 22
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End date of the game: Sunday, 13 April
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Standard trading close: Thursday, March 6
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Standard playoff start: Monday, March 17 (Week 20)
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Standard playoff ending: Sunday, April 6 (Week 22)
For more information on the Yahoo Fantasy schedule, click here.
📅 Important NBA dates you should know
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League start: Tuesday, October 22
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Emirates NBA Cup: 12 November – 17 December
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NBA All-Star Weekend: February 14 – 16 (San Francisco, California)
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League end: 13 April
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Play-In Tournament: 15 to 18 April
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Start of the playoffs: 19 April
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Start of the NBA Finals: 5 June
For more information on NBA game scheduling, click here
🗓️ NBA schedule information
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I recommend starting the fantasy playoffs as early as Week 18 (March 3) and no later than Week 20 (March 17). Talk to your commissioner because the last thing you want is to play until the end of the season when relegated teams throw in the towel or playoff contenders rest their key players before the postseason.
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While it’s conceivable that we’ll continue to see less load management with so many contractual incentives tied to attendance, it’s concerning that the average number of consecutive games per team has increased to 14.9%. However, eliminating all four games in five-night scenarios is significant when factoring in player travel and rest time. Big thanks to Tim Reynolds for taking the time to do this analysis.
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11 teams play the most back-to-back games (16): Hawks, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Pelicans, Thunder, Suns, Kings and Wizards. ((Kawhi Leonard’s knees are not happy about this news.)
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Six teams play the fewest back-to-back games (13): Celtics, Bulls, Mavericks, Lakers, Magic, Trail Blazers. What can I say, the league loves LeBron 🙃
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Easiest strength: (1) Denver Nuggets, (2) Indiana Pacers, (3) Orlando Magic, (4) Boston Celtics and (5) New York Knicks
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Most difficult level of play: (30) Portland Trail Blazers, (29) Los Angeles Clippers, (28) Houston Rockets, (27) Phoenix Suns and (26) Brooklyn Nets
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The Phoenix Suns have the largest break differential in the NBA at -4 games (six games with a break advantage compared to ten games with a break disadvantage), something to keep an eye on when considering Bradley Beal’s health issues and Kevin Durant’s age.
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The Warriors and Bulls have the best stats in the league in games with a residual advantage (compared to games with a residual disadvantage).
🤔 Opening night: Tuesday, October 22nd
It’s only fitting that the defending champions will play on opening night, facing one of their toughest opponents in the Eastern Conference, the newly formed New York Knicks. It will be interesting to see how the Boston Celtics fare without Kristaps Porzingis to start the season. On the other hand, how Julius Randle fits into the Knicks’ crowded starting lineup will also impact the fantasy values of other starters Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby – how much remains to be seen.
I’m not thrilled about the Lakers getting a tie on opening night, but I get it. I’m just asking that we get the father-son moment over with as soon as possible. We don’t need or want this story to drag on. That’s wishful thinking, but at least we get to see the ascendant T’Wolves with Anthony Edwards and co.
🏀 Five games I’m looking forward to at the start of the season
October 30: Spurs vs. Thunder
Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the stars of the 2023 rookie class, compete against each other in the second week of the season? A must-see!
November 6: Warriors vs. Celtics
Jayson Tatum could reach 50+ after Steve Kerr sent him out on the ice far too often at the Paris Olympics.
November 12: Knicks vs. Sixers
A heated rivalry that only intensified after the Knicks knocked the Sixers out in the first round of the playoffs last season. Add to that Philadelphia native Mikal Bridges returning to the Wells Fargo Center and Paul George, and it’s war.
November 29: Grizzlies vs. Pelicans
It’s been a minute since we saw Ja Morant and Zion Williamson.
December 3: Rockets vs. Kings
The Kings brought in DeMar DeRozan to add firepower to their offense, and the Rockets are developing into one of the best young teams in the league. I bet it’s going to be a track and field contest.
🏆 Emirates NBA Cup
The Emirates NBA Cup, formerly the season tournament, begins on November 12th and ends with the final on December 17th.
Impact on Fantasy Basketball: The The Week 7 scoring period runs from December 2-15 (two weeks). The NBA will hold the championship game on December 17, but it will not count toward the Week 8 fantasy scoring period. After the championship game is completed, the Week 8 scoring period will run from Thursday, December 19 through Sunday, December 22.
More information about the Emirates NBA Cup
🎄The program for Christmas Day!
Fantasy football is coming to an end at this point, and the NBA has done a great job of attracting some heavyweights for the holidays to compete with the NFL.
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San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Dallas Mavericks
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Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
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Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors
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The first meeting of the season between Steph Curry, LeBron James and Anthony Davis since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. I can’t wait, even though these two teams are eliminated as playoff contenders.
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Denver Nuggets @ Chicago Bulls
📺 Top 10 nationally televised games by team (ESPN, ABC and TNT)
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Los Angeles: 29
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Celtics: 26
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Warriors: 24
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Curtsy: 24
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Outsiders: 23
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Nuggets: 22
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76ers: 21
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Suns: 19
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Dollars: 18
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Timber Wolves: 18
