When Does the 2022 NBA Season Start and Key Dates to Remember

I still remember the moment I first heard the Gray interview that's been circulating among basketball fans recently. There's something incredibly raw about an athlete describing that surreal feeling of stepping onto the court after waiting so long. "To be honest, I really blacked out when I was out there for the first few minutes so that was all God for sure," Gray confessed in that now-famous quote. "He just guided me through that first few minutes on the floor and once I hit that first shot and it went in, heard my name, say three ball and just felt really good to be out there." That exact feeling - that blend of nerves, excitement, and divine intervention - is what makes the start of every NBA season so magical, and it's precisely why I'm counting down the days until the 2022 season tips off on October 18, 2022.

Having followed the NBA for over twenty years now, I've developed this ritual where I mark my calendar with all the key dates as soon as the league announces them. There's something thrilling about seeing the entire season mapped out before it even begins. The regular season will run from that October 18 start through April 10, 2023, giving us a full 176 days of basketball action. That's 1,230 games spread across those months, if you're counting - and I definitely am. What I love most about this schedule is how it builds gradually, starting with those tentative early games where teams are still figuring themselves out, much like Gray described his initial moments on the court, before building toward the intensity of the playoff race.

The preseason actually begins even earlier, with training camps opening on September 27, 2022. I always make sure to watch those first preseason games because you can spot which teams have developed chemistry over the summer and which players spent their offseason improving specific aspects of their game. Last year, I noticed Jordan Poole's improved defense during preseason and correctly predicted his breakout season - one of my better calls, if I'm being honest. The trade deadline falls on February 9, 2023, and this is when contenders often make their final moves. I'm particularly excited to see how the Ben Simmons situation resolves itself, though if you want my honest opinion, I think Philadelphia would be smart to keep him unless they get an absolute superstar in return.

All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City from February 17-19, 2023 provides this wonderful mid-season break where we get to see players in a more relaxed environment. I've attended three All-Star weekends in person, and there's nothing quite like watching the dunk contest live. The skills competition has lost some of its luster in recent years, but I have a feeling this year's might surprise us. The regular season concludes on April 10, 2023, followed by the play-in tournament from April 11-14. I have mixed feelings about the play-in format - it creates exciting basketball, but sometimes I wonder if it unfairly penalizes the seventh and eighth seeds who've fought all season for their spot.

The playoffs begin on April 15, 2023, and this is when the real magic happens. Having witnessed numerous championship runs throughout my years as a fan, I can tell you that the teams who succeed in the playoffs are often the ones whose players can handle those "blackout moments" Gray described - when the pressure is overwhelming, and you need to rely on muscle memory and preparation. The NBA Finals are scheduled to start on June 1, 2023, and if last season's incredible playoff matchups were any indication, we're in for another spectacular conclusion to the year. Personally, I'm hoping for a Warriors-Nets finals, though I recognize the Bucks and Lakers will have something to say about that.

What many casual fans don't realize is how much happens behind the scenes between these key dates. The free agency negotiation period begins on June 30, 2023, followed by the moratorium period from July 1-6. Summer League runs from July 7-17 in Las Vegas, and I make a point to watch every game because you get to see the rookies and second-year players in extended minutes. The draft on June 22, 2023 will be particularly interesting this year with Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero looking like franchise-changing talents.

Reflecting on Gray's comments about his initial moments on the court, I'm reminded that every season brings these human stories alongside the statistics and schedules. The 2022-23 NBA season represents another chapter in this ongoing narrative, another opportunity for players to experience those transcendent moments where preparation meets opportunity. The dates provide the structure, but the magic happens in between - in those split-second decisions, those clutch shots, those moments where athletes move beyond thinking and into that flow state Gray described so eloquently. As October approaches, I find myself growing increasingly excited not just for the games themselves, but for all the unexpected moments that will inevitably occur between these scheduled dates - the buzzer-beaters, the breakout performances, the stories we haven't even imagined yet.