The NBA Preseason offers fans their first look at teams as they prepare for the upcoming regular season, which kicks off on October 22. During the preseason, teams experiment with different lineups, test new strategies, and allow players to shake off the offseason rust.
Most NBA teams will hold their media day on September 30, with practices starting the next day. However, the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, who are participating in preseason games in Abu Dhabi, have a different schedule. The Celtics will have their media day on Tuesday and begin practice on Wednesday, while the Nuggets will hold media day on Thursday and start practice on Friday.
The preseason will start on October 4, with the first game tipping off in Abu Dhabi, where the Boston Celtics will face the Denver Nuggets at 12:00 ET on NBA TV.
The games will be spread across various venues and broadcast on a range of platforms, giving fans plenty of opportunities to catch their favorite teams in action before the regular season begins.
How long is the NBA preseason and how many games are played?
The 2024 NBA preseason runs for about two weeks, from October 4 to October 18. Each team will play a handful of games, allowing coaches to assess their rosters and experiment with lineups.
These games are important for evaluating new talent, integrating offseason acquisitions and setting up the strategies that will carry into the regular season.
Where to watch the NBA preseason
Preseason games will be broadcast on a variety of channels, including NBA TV, ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT, as well as regional networks. If you’re looking to catch every moment, NBA League Pass will carry most games, giving fans comprehensive coverage of the preseason action.
Meanwhile, streaming services such as YouTube TV and Fubo TV offer options to watch games airing on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV, making it easy to enjoy the games live without a traditional cable package.