The 2025-26 NBA season is quickly approaching. We are less than a month away from the Washington Wizards’ first preseason game at home against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 12 and just a little over one month away from their first regular season game on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 22.
But some teams: the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns may start media days or reporting days as early as Sept. 23 and training camps could begin
as early as Sept. 24. For other teams, including the Wizards, training camps and media days start on Sept. 29. Why is this the case?
It’s because the Knicks and 76ers will play in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 2 and 4; the Pelicans will play NBL teams on Oct. 3 and 5; the Nets and Suns will play in Macao on Oct. 10 and 12. These games will all be held outside of North America, so given the jet lag, it makes sense to allow players extra time to adjust while abroad.
I do like seeing preseason games played abroad, so there is piqued interest in the NBA worldwide. But I also don’t mind seeing the Wizards have a conventional preseason before the 82-game grind begins in just over a month.
