2024–25 NBA season explained
| 2024–25 NBA season |
| League: | National Basketball Association |
| Sport: | Basketball |
| No Of Games: | 82 |
| No Of Teams: | 30 |
| Tv: | ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV |
| Streaming: | ESPN+, Max |
| Draft: | Draft |
| Draft Link: | 2024 NBA draft |
| Top Pick: | Zaccharie Risacher |
| Top Pick Link: | List of first overall NBA draft picks |
| Picked By: | Atlanta Hawks |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Mvp Link: | NBA Most Valuable Player Award |
| Top Scorer Link: | List of NBA annual scoring leaders |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Playoffs Link: | 2025 NBA playoffs |
| Conf1: | Eastern |
| Conf1 Link: | Eastern Conference |
| Conf2: | Western |
| Conf2 Link: | Western Conference |
| Finals: | Finals |
| Finals Link: | 2025 NBA Finals |
| Finals Mvp Link: | NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award |
| Seasonslist: | List of NBA seasons |
| Seasonslistnames: | NBA |
| Prevseason Link: | 2023–24 NBA season |
| Prevseason Year: | 2023–24 |
| Nextseason Link: | 2025–26 NBA season |
| Nextseason Year: | 2025–26 |
The 2024–25 NBA season is the upcoming 79th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season is planned to begin on October 22, 2024 and end on April 13, 2025. The NBA plans to stage an in-season tournament for the second consecutive year, now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup.[1] The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 16, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco.[2] The play-in tournament is then scheduled be played on April 15–18, 2025, followed by the playoffs on the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals in June.
Transactions
See main article: List of 2024–25 NBA season transactions.
Retirements
- On July 2, 2024, Kemba Walker announced his retirement from professional basketball.[3] He joined the Hornets as a player enhancement coach the next day.[4]
- On August 1, 2024, Gordon Hayward retired from professional basketball.[5] [6]
- On August 15, 2024, Joe Harris retired from professional basketball.[7]
Draft
The first round of the 2024 NBA draft took place on June 26, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The second round took place the next day at ESPN's Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.[8] [9]
Free agency
Free agency negotiations began on June 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET. Players were officially signed after the July moratorium on July 6 at 12 p.m. ET.
Coaching changes
Off-season
- On April 3, 2024, the Charlotte Hornets announced that Steve Clifford would step down as head coach at the end of the 2023–24 season and move into a front-office advisory role.[10]
- On April 22, 2024, the Brooklyn Nets hired Jordi Fernández as their new head coach.[11]
- On May 3, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers fired their head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons with the team.[12]
- On May 9, 2024, the Charlotte Hornets hired Charles Lee as their new head coach.[13]
- On May 9, 2024, the Phoenix Suns fired their head coach Frank Vogel after only one season with the team.[14]
- On May 11, 2024, the Phoenix Suns hired Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach.[15]
- On May 23, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired their head coach J. B. Bickerstaff after five seasons with the team.[16]
- On May 29, 2024, the Washington Wizards hired Brian Keefe as their full-time head coach.[17]
- On June 19, 2024, the Detroit Pistons fired their head coach Monty Williams after one season of coaching the team.[18]
- On June 24, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick as their new head coach.[19]
- On June 28, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers hired Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach.[20]
- On July 3, 2024, the Detroit Pistons hired J. B. Bickerstaff as their new head coach.[21]
Preseason
The NBA often hosts preseason games in non-NBA markets.
International games
Regular season
The majority of the regular season was released on August 15, with those group play games counting as part of the in-season tournament, now branded as the NBA Cup, announced two days earlier on August 13. The two games that are dependent on the results of the in-season tournament, along with the knockout round schedule, will be announced at a later date (see details below).[29] [30]
International games
In-season tournament
See main article: 2024 NBA Cup.
The NBA Cup, formerly the In-season tournament, will return for the 2024–25 season, with the same structure:[33] [34]
- All games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.
- Six intraconference pools of five (three pools per conference).
- Tuesdays and Fridays during November and early December featured group games against each of the other teams in their pool (two at home and two on the road). These games still counted as regular season games.
- The winners of each pool (three teams per conference) and two wild-card teams (one team per conference) advanced to a single-elimination tournament.
- The semifinals and championship game will once again be played in Las Vegas.
- Players for the tournament champion will receive prize money that is to be determined.
- To compensate, the NBA's regular season scheduling formula was modified so only 80 games for each team were initially announced during the offseason. The first two rounds of the in-season tournament would then count as regular-season games 81 and 82. The championship game would then be an extra 83rd game that would not count toward the regular season. Teams that did not qualify for the in-season tournament knockout round, or were eliminated in the quarterfinals, were then scheduled additional games against each other that were eliminated in the same conference (if possible) and round to reach 82 games.
- T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada is scheduled to host the semi-finals and championship game for the second consecutive season.[35]
Arenas
- The Los Angeles Clippers have moved to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This is after playing at the previously known Crypto.com Arena for the past 25 years in Downtown Los Angeles, California since the 1999–2000 NBA season.
Logos and uniforms
- On February 26, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers unveiled a new logo and uniforms to coincide with their move to Intuit Dome. The team's new logo features a stylized clipper ship with basketball seams on its hull, surrounded by points of a compass and a navy blue "C" in a white circle. The new uniforms are modern versions of the script uniforms previously wore between 1987 and 2015. The white uniform features a "Clippers" modernized script wordmark in navy blue along with red numbers, the navy blue uniform features the "Clippers" script in red along with white numbers, and the alternative red uniform features a "Los Angeles" script wordmark in navy blue along with white numbers.[36]
- On June 5, 2024, the Utah Jazz unveiled a two-season long transition to a modernized version of their 1996-2004 uniforms, with new "City" and "Statement" uniforms debuting this season, and new "Association" and "Icon Edition" uniforms debuting next season.[37]
- On June 21, 2024, the Washington Wizards unveiled a new "Statement" uniform.[38]
- On June 27, 2024, the Golden State Warriors unveiled a new secondary logo and "Statement" uniform.[39]
- On July 7, 2024. the Brooklyn Nets promoted their secondary logo to their primary and introduced a new secondary logo.[40]
- On July 30, 2024, the Toronto Raptors unveiled their 30th anniversary logo for this season.[41]
Media
National
Linear television
This will be the last season of a nine-year deal with the ESPN family of networks, TNT Sports, and NBA TV, before new 11-year deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon Prime Video begin in 2025–26. The 2024–25 season would thus mark the end of TNT airing NBA games since 1989, and TNT Sports' overall relationship with the league since 1984 on TBS.[42] [43]
ESPN has Wednesday and Friday night games during most of the regular season, along with select Sunday games from February to April, and a Monday doubleheader on March 17.[44] TNT's schedule includes Tuesday nights games during most of the regular season, and Thursday nights during opening week and the second half of the season.[45] NBA TV televises games when the other national broadcasters are not airing games.[46] ABC airs NBA Saturday Primetime games on seven selected Saturdays between January and March (including a tripleheader on January 25), and NBA Sunday Showcase games on five selected Sunday afternoons in February and March.[44] ESPN/ABC and TNT may also feature simulcasts or alternative broadcasts of selected games on ESPN2 and TruTV, respectively.[47]
TNT will again have the NBA All-Star Weekend (except for the Celebrity game which continues to air on ESPN) for the 23rd and final year.[45]
On the final day of the regular season, Sunday, April 13, two games with playoff implications will be flexed into ESPN's afternoon doubleheader.[44]
Streaming
This will be the second regular season that the streaming service Max will have live access to TNT's games on its Bleacher Report Sports Add-on tier.[45]
NBA League Pass continues to offer out-of-market games, live access to NBA TV, and on-demand replays of every game.[46]
Local
Bally Sports will be rebranded before the season begins.[48]
The Chicago Bulls, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, MLB's Chicago White Sox, and Standard Media will launch the Chicago Sports Network, replacing NBC Sports Chicago as their regional broadcaster.[49] [50]
The New Orleans Pelicans signed a multi-year agreement with Gray Television to replace Bally Sports New Orleans as their broadcaster. Gray previously aired 10 Pelicans games on their stations last season. Gray's WVUE-DT in New Orleans will remain as the flagship station.[51]
The Portland Trail Blazers and Root Sports mutually agreed to end their television agreement prior to the season., the Trail Blazers have not announced a new television agreement.[52]
Notable occurrences
- On July 24, 2024, the NBA announced that it has signed new 11-year media deals with the ESPN networks, NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video that will begin in 2025–26,[43] rejecting TNT Sports' matching rights offer for Amazon's package. The NBA claimed TNT was unable to fully match the terms of Amazon's all-streaming contract. TNT subsequently filed a lawsuit against the league in a Manhattan New York state court, seeking to delay the new media deals from taking effect and to rule that TNT's offer matched Amazon's deal.[53]
- The NBA cut the average back-to-back regular season games per team by 23 percent to help curb "load management", when teams rest more than one healthy star player on any given night. Teams no longer play four games in five nights, eight games in 12 nights, nor play on the day before or after "high-profile" nationally televised games. [54]
Notes and References
- Web site: Herbert . James . February 8, 2024 . NBA In-Season Tournament renamed 'NBA Cup' with Emirates as a sponsor . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240208085528/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-in-season-tournament-renamed-nba-cup-with-emirates-as-a-sponsor/ . February 8, 2024 . February 8, 2024 . CBS Sports.
- Web site: Mehra . Rakesh . October 31, 2023 . Warriors Win Hosting Rights To 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend First Bay Area Team In 23 Years To Host The Game . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104120708/https://www.pinkvilla.com/sports/warriors-win-hosting-rights-to-2025-nba-all-star-weekend-first-bay-area-team-in-23-years-to-host-the-game-report-1255106 . November 4, 2023 . October 31, 2023 . Pinkvilla.com.
- Web site: 2024-07-03 . Kemba Walker retires after 12 NBA seasons, four All-Star appearances and joins Hornets coaching staff . 2024-08-03 . CBSSports.com . en.
- Web site: 2024-07-31 . Kemba Walker Details Decision to Retire, Join Hornets' Staff . 2024-08-03 . Charlotte Hornets On SI . en-US.
- Gordon. Hayward. Thank you . 1819010197857198161. gordonhayward. August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024.
- Web site: Dana. Gauruder. Gordon Hayward Announces Retirement. HoopsRumors.com. August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024.
- Web site: NBA sharpshooter Joe Harris Retires after 10 year career playing with Nets and Pistons. CBSSports.com . August 15, 2024. August 16, 2024.
- Web site: Mendoza . Jordan . January 31, 2024 . 2024 NBA Draft expands to two-day format: second round will be held day after first round . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201001000/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2024/01/31/nba-draft-expanding-two-night-event/72424827007/ . February 1, 2024 . February 1, 2024 . USA Today.
- Web site: Wojnarowski . Adrian . Adrian Wojnarowski . January 31, 2024 . NBA expands 2024 draft into two-day event on June 26-27 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240131184146/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39429562/sources-nba-expand-2024-draft-two-day-event . January 31, 2024 . February 1, 2024 . ESPN.
- Web site: April 3, 2024 . Steve Clifford To Step Down As Hornets Head Coach After The Season . April 3, 2024 . NBA.com.
- Web site: Brooklyn Nets Name Jordi Fernández Head Coach . NBA.com . April 22, 2024 . April 22, 2024.
- Web site: Lakers Part Ways with Head Coach Darvin Ham. NBA.com. May 3, 2024. May 3, 2024.
- Web site: Charlotte Hornets Name Charles Lee Head Coach. NBA.com. May 9, 2024. May 9, 2024.
- Web site: Suns part ways with coach Frank Vogel. NBA.com. May 9, 2024. May 9, 2024.
- Web site: Suns Name Two-time NBA Coach of the Year and Arizona Native Mike Budenholzer Head Coach. NBA.com. May 11, 2024. May 11, 2024.
- Web site: Cavaliers Dismiss J.B. Bickerstaff as Head Coach. NBA.com. May 23, 2024. May 23, 2024.
- Web site: Wizards Name Brian Keefe Head Coach. NBA.com. May 29, 2024. May 29, 2024.
- Web site: DETROIT PISTONS TO MAKE COACHING CHANGE. NBA.com. June 19, 2024. June 19, 2024.
- Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Announce JJ Redick as Head Coach. NBA.com. June 24, 2024. June 24, 2024.
- Web site: Cavs Hire Kenny Atkinson as Head Coach. NBA.com. June 28, 2024. June 28, 2024.
- Web site: DETROIT PISTONS ANNOUNCE J.B. BICKERSTAFF AS HEAD COACH. NBA.com. July 3, 2024. July 3, 2024.
- Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Announce Three Games for 2024-25 Preseason Schedule Presented by Delta Air Lines. NBA.com. May 17, 2024. May 17, 2024.
- https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/raptors-announce-details-for-2024-canada-series-game
- https://www.netsdaily.com/2024/7/26/24207265/brooklyn-nets-to-open-pre-season-in-san-diego-october-8-vs-los-angeles-clippers
- https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-thunder-announce-preseason-game-tulsa-new-zealand-breakers
- Web site: Stanton. Matt. Timberwolves to Host 2024-25 Preseason Game at Wells Fargo Arena, Home of NBA G League affiliate, Iowa Wolves. NBA.com. March 30, 2024. March 30, 2024.
- Web site: Daniels. Chris. NBA's Rain City Showcase returns to Climate Pledge Arena for 3rd year in a row. komonews.com. July 15, 2024. July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Celtics, Nuggets to play 2 preseason games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024. NBA.com. March 19, 2024. March 19, 2024.
- Web site: Group Play schedule unveiled for Emirates NBA Cup 2024 . 2024-08-13 . NBA.com . en.
- Web site: NBA unveils schedule for 2024-25 season. National Basketball Association. August 15, 2024. August 16, 2024.
- Web site: Heat, Wizards to play in NBA Mexico City Game 2024. NBA.com. June 14, 2024. June 15, 2024.
- Web site: Spurs, Pacers to square off in NBA Paris Games 2025. NBA.com. April 29, 2024. April 29, 2024.
- News: NBA Fact or Fiction: Is the in-season tournament a good idea?. Rohrbach. Ben. Yahoo!. April 7, 2023. April 28, 2023. May 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230518075549/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba-fact-or-fiction-is-the-in-season-tournament-a-good-idea-180545721.html. live.
- News: NBA in-season tournament: How the league reportedly plans to structure its new spectacle. Quinn. Sam. CBS Sports. April 9, 2023. April 28, 2023. June 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230621214951/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-in-season-tournament-how-the-league-reportedly-plans-to-structure-its-new-spectacle/. live.
- Web site: Emirates NBA Cup: Everything you need to know . 2024-08-13 . NBA.com . en.
- Web site: Clippers unveil new uniforms, court and logo for next season. NBA.com. February 26, 2024. May 22, 2024.
- Web site: Jazz unveil new-look uniforms for next 2 seasons. NBA.com. June 5, 2024.
- Web site: Wizards unveil new Statement Edition uniform for 2024-25. NBA.com. June 21, 2024.
- Web site: Warriors unveil new Statement Edition uniform and secondary logo. NBA.com. June 27, 2024.
- Web site: Brooklyn Nets Subtly Update Logos, Introduce New Secondary Mark For 2024-25 Season. sportslogos.net. July 7, 2024.
- Web site: Toronto Raptors unveil 30th anniversary logo for the 2024-25 season. NBA. July 30, 2024. August 5, 2024.
- News: April 18, 2024 . NBA's exclusive TV rights negotiating window with ESPN, Warner expected to pass without a deal . live . CNBC . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420003021/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/18/nba-tv-rights-news-on-negotiations-with-espn-warner-bros-discovery.html . April 20, 2024.
- Web site: Lewis . Jon . 2024-07-24 . NBA announces rights deals with Disney, Comcast, Amazon . 2024-07-24 . Sports Media Watch . en-US.
- August 15, 2024 . Bang! ESPN & ABC’s 2024-25 NBA Regular Season Broadcast Schedule . ESPN Press Room . August 16, 2024 . Ronce . Rajan.
- August 15, 2024 . TNT Sports to Tip Off 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with NBA Champion Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown & Jrue Holiday Hosting New York Knicks with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges & Julius Randle, Tuesday, Oct. 22 . Warner Bros. Discovery . August 16, 2024.
- August 15, 2024. NBA TV to Televise 107 Games During 2024-25 Regular Season with Multiple Appearances by NBA Champion Celtics, Mavericks, Knicks, Warriors, Bucks, Lakers, 76ers, Suns, Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets & Thunder. Warner Bros. Discovery. August 16, 2024.
- Web site: Lewis . Jon . March 7, 2024 . WBD to launch nightly sports block on truTV . April 6, 2024 . Sports Media Watch.
- News: Crupi . Anthony . March 1, 2024 . Diamond Sports Files Official Re-org Plan, Will Cut Ties With Bally's . April 8, 2024 . Sportico.
- Web site: Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox partnering with media group for new broadcast home. The Athletic. subscription. May 4, 2024.
- Web site: Libit . Daniel . Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks to Launch Chicago Sports Network . Sportico . June 3, 2024. June 3, 2024.
- News: Clark. Christian. Pelicans ditch Bally Sports, enter partnership with local station for new TV deal. NOLA.com. August 6, 2024. August 6, 2024.
- News: Friend. Tom. Trail Blazers move away from RSN model with Root Sports not airing 2024-25 season games. Sports Business Journal. August 14, 2024. August 14, 2024.
- Web site: Reedy. Joe. Warner Bros. Discovery sues NBA for not accepting its matching offer. Associated Press. July 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808013038/https://apnews.com/article/nba-tv-deal-tnt-lawsuit-560d0edc85915b1156e5a1ab9495dd04. August 8, 2024. live.
- Web site: Salao. Colin. NBA Schedule Tweaks Focus on Load Management . Front Office Sports. August 16, 2024. August 18, 2024.
