2024–25 NBA season

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The 2024–25 NBA season is the 79th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 22, 2024, and ended on April 13, 2025.[1] The NBA held an in-season tournament for the second consecutive year, now called the Emirates NBA Cup.[2] The 2025 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco.[3] The play-in tournament was played from April 15 to 18, 2025, followed by the playoffs the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals in June.

Quick Facts League, Sport ...
2024–25 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Duration
  • October 22, 2024 – April 13, 2025
  • November 12 – December 17, 2024
    (NBA Cup)
  • April 15–18, 2025
    (Play-in tournament)
  • April 19 – May/June 2025 (Playoffs)
  • June 5, 2025 (Finals)
Number of games82 per team
Number of teams30
TV partner(s)ESPN/ABC, TNT, NBA TV
Streaming partner(s)ESPN+/Disney+, Max
Draft
Top draft pickZaccharie Risacher
Picked byAtlanta Hawks
Regular season
Top seedOklahoma City Thunder
Top scorerShai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)
Playoffs
Finals
NBA seasons
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Transactions

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Retirements

  • On July 2, 2024, Kemba Walker announced his retirement from professional basketball.[4] He joined the Hornets as a player enhancement coach the next day.[4][5]
  • On August 1, 2024, Gordon Hayward retired from professional basketball.[6][7]
  • On August 15, 2024, Joe Harris retired from professional basketball.[8]
  • On September 26, 2024, Derrick Rose retired from professional basketball. He played for six different teams in his 16-year career, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2011 with the Chicago Bulls.[9]
  • On September 29, 2024, AJ Griffin announced his retirement from professional basketball to pursue a career in ministry.[10]
  • On October 2, 2024, Ish Smith was hired as a pro scout for the Washington Wizards, thus ending his playing career. Smith played for a record 13 NBA franchises in his 14 years in the NBA, and won an NBA championship in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets.[11]
  • On October 10, 2024, Danny Green retired from professional basketball. Green played with six different teams in his 14-year career, and is one of the four players to win NBA championships with three different teams.[12]
  • On October 29, 2024, Rudy Gay announced his retirement from professional basketball.[13][14]

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.[15][16]

The Atlanta Hawks take French teen Zaccharie Risacher as the #1 overall pick.

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.

Notable moves

Re-signings

  • Jayson Tatum agrees to 5-year max extension with the Celtics.
  • Jalen Green agrees to 3-year extension with the Rockets.
  • Pascal Siakam returns on 4-year deal with the Pacers.
  • James Harden returns on 2-year deal with the Clippers.
  • LeBron James returns on 2-year deal with the Lakers.
  • Bam Adebayo signs 3-year extension with the Heat.
  • Jalen Brunson agrees to 4-year extension with the Knicks.
  • Franz Wagner agrees to 5-year extension with the Magic.
  • Joel Embiid agrees to 3-year extension with the 76ers.
  • Scottie Barnes agrees to 5-year extension with the Raptors.
  • Lauri Markkanen agrees to 5-year extension with the Jazz.
  • Stephen Curry agrees to 1 year extension with the Warriors.

Notable trades

Coaching changes

Off-season

In-season

Preseason

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In addition to regular preseason games hosted at NBA teams' own arenas, the NBA often hosts neutral site preseason games (either in domestic non-NBA markets or foreign markets) or against non-NBA teams. Listed below are only those neutral site or preseason games.

Domestic neutral site games

International games

More information Date, Teams ...
Date Teams Arena Location Reference Winner
October 4 Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Etihad Arena Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [40] Boston Celtics
October 6 Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Boston Celtics
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Non-NBA opponents

Regular season

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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 were dependent on the results of the in-season tournament, along with the knockout round schedule, were announced at the conclusion of group play (see details below).[45][1]

The Spurs played two alternate-site games at the Moody Center at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas in February, when the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo took over Frost Bank Center.

International games

More information Date, Teams ...
Date Teams Arena Location Reference Winner
NBA Mexico City Game 2024
November 2 Miami Heat vs Washington Wizards Mexico City Arena Mexico City, Mexico [46] Miami Heat
NBA Paris Games 2025
January 23 Indiana Pacers vs San Antonio Spurs Accor Arena Paris, France [47] San Antonio Spurs
January 25 San Antonio Spurs vs Indiana Pacers Indiana Pacers
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Emirates NBA Cup

The NBA Cup, formerly the In-season tournament, returned for the 2024–25 season, with the same structure:[48][49][45]

  • All games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.
  • Six intraconference pools of five (three pools per conference).
  • Tuesdays and Fridays Between November 12 and December 3 featured group games against each of the other teams in their pool (two at home and two on the road). These games still count 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 were again played in Las Vegas.
  • Players for the tournament champion each received $514,971.
  • 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 counted as regular-season games 81 and 82. The championship game was an extra 83rd game that did 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 scheduled additional games against other teams that were eliminated in the same conference (if possible) and round to reach 82 games.
  • T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada hosted the semi-finals and championship game for the second consecutive season.[50]

Standings

Eastern Conference
More information Atlantic Division, W ...
Atlantic DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yBoston Celtics6121.744281333814282
xNew York Knicks5131.62210.02714241712482
Toronto Raptors3052.36631.0182312298882
Brooklyn Nets2656.31735.01229142731382
Philadelphia 76ers2458.29337.01229122931382
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More information Central Division, W ...
Central DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
cCleveland Cavaliers6418.780347301112482
xIndiana Pacers5032.61014.02912212010682
xMilwaukee Bucks4834.58516.0281420209782
xDetroit Pistons4438.53720.02219221951182
piChicago Bulls3943.47625.01823212041282
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More information Southeast Division, W ...
Southeast DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yOrlando Magic4141.5002219192212482
piAtlanta Hawks4042.4881.02119192310682
xMiami Heat3745.4514.01922182310682
Charlotte Hornets1963.23222.0122973411582
Washington Wizards1864.22023.083310317982
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Western Conference
More information Northwest Division, W ...
Northwest DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
zOklahoma City Thunder6814.82936632812482
xDenver Nuggets5032.61018.0261524178882
xMinnesota Timberwolves4933.59819.02516241711582
Portland Trail Blazers3646.43932.02219142761082
Utah Jazz1765.20751.0103173431382
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More information Pacific Division, W ...
Pacific DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yLos Angeles Lakers5032.6103110192212482
xLos Angeles Clippers5032.610301120219782
xGolden State Warriors4834.5852.02417241751182
piSacramento Kings4042.48810.02021202151182
Phoenix Suns3646.43914.0241712299782
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More information Southwest Division, W ...
Southwest DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yHouston Rockets5230.6342912231813382
xMemphis Grizzlies4834.5854.02615221911582
piDallas Mavericks3943.47613.0221817258882
San Antonio Spurs3448.41518.02021142751182
New Orleans Pelicans2161.25631.0142773431382
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By conference

More information Eastern Conference, # ...
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Notes

  • z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
  • c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
  • y – Clinched division title
  • pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot (locked into a play-in spot but not able to clinch a playoff spot directly)
  • x – Clinched playoff spot
  • * – Division leader

Postponed games due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires

  • January 9: Lakers vs. Hornets[51]
  • January 11: Lakers vs. Spurs and Clippers vs. Hornets[52]

Postponed games due to other reasons

  • January 11: Hawks vs. Rockets due to a winter storm in Atlanta[53]
  • January 22: Pelicans vs. Bucks due to a Gulf Coast blizzard[54]

Play-in tournament

The top six seeds in each conference advanced to the main rounds of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the next four seeds participated in a Page playoff system tournament from April 15–18, 2025. The 7th-place team hosted the 8th-place team in the double-chance round needing to win one game to advance, with the winner clinching the 7th seed in the playoffs. The 9th-place team hosted the 10th-place team in the elimination round requiring two wins to advance, with the loser being eliminated from the contention. The loser in the double-chance round hosted the elimination-round game-winner, with the winner clinching the 8th seed and the loser being eliminated.[55]

Eastern Conference

Play-in gamesNo. 8 seed gameFinal seeds
7Orlando*1207Orlando*No. 7 seed
8Atlanta9510MiamiNo. 8 seed
8Atlanta114
10Miami123 (OT)
9Chicago90
10Miami109

Bold Game winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage
* Division winner

Western Conference

Play-in gamesNo. 8 seed gameFinal seeds
7Golden State1217Golden StateNo. 7 seed
8Memphis1168MemphisNo. 8 seed
8Memphis120
10Dallas106
9Sacramento106
10Dallas120

Bold Game winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage
* Division winner

Playoffs

The playoffs began on April 19, 2025.

Bracket

First round Conference semifinals Conference finals NBA Finals
            
E1 Cleveland* 4
E8 Miami 0
E1 Cleveland* 0
E4 Indiana 1
E4 Indiana 4
E5 Milwaukee 1
E  
Eastern Conference
E  
E3 New York 4
E6 Detroit 2
E3 New York 1
E2 Boston* 0
E2 Boston* 4
E7 Orlando* 1
E  
W  
W1 Oklahoma City* 4
W8 Memphis 0
W1 Oklahoma City* 0
W4 Denver 1
W4 Denver 4
W5 LA Clippers 3
W  
Western Conference
W  
W3 LA Lakers* 1
W6 Minnesota 4
W6 Minnesota 0
W7 Golden State 0
W2 Houston* 3
W7 Golden State 4

* Division winner

Statistics

Individual statistic leaders

More information Category, Player ...
CategoryPlayerTeam(s)Statistic
Points per gameShai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City Thunder32.7
Rebounds per gameDomantas SabonisSacramento Kings13.9
Assists per gameTrae YoungAtlanta Hawks11.6
Steals per gameDyson DanielsAtlanta Hawks3.0
Blocks per gameWalker KesslerUtah Jazz2.4
Turnovers per gameTrae YoungAtlanta Hawks4.7
Fouls per gameJaren Jackson Jr.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Memphis Grizzlies
New York Knicks
3.5
Minutes per gameJosh HartNew York Knicks37.6
FG%Jarrett AllenCleveland Cavaliers70.6
FT%Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors93.3
3P%Seth CurryCharlotte Hornets45.6
Efficiency per gameNikola JokićDenver Nuggets42.4
Double-doublesDomantas SabonisSacramento Kings61
Triple-doublesNikola JokićDenver Nuggets34
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Individual game highs

Team statistic leaders

More information Category, Team ...
CategoryTeamStatistic
Points per gameCleveland Cavaliers121.9
Rebounds per gameHouston Rockets48.5
Assists per gameDenver Nuggets31.0
Steals per gameOklahoma City Thunder10.3
Blocks per gameOrlando Magic6.0
Turnovers per gameUtah Jazz17.2
Fouls per gameToronto Raptors21.2
FG%Denver Nuggets50.6
FT%Oklahoma City Thunder81.9
3P%Milwaukee Bucks38.7
+/−Oklahoma City Thunder+12.9
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Awards

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Yearly awards

More information Award, Recipient(s) ...
2024–25 NBA awards
AwardRecipient(s)Finalists[56]
Most Valuable PlayerGiannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
Defensive Player of the YearEvan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)[57]Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)
Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
Rookie of the YearStephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)[58]Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Sixth Man of the YearPayton Pritchard (Boston Celtics)[59]Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons)
Ty Jerome (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Most Improved PlayerDyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)[60]Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)
Clutch Player of the YearJalen Brunson (New York Knicks)[61]Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
Coach of the YearKenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers)[62]J. B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets)
Executive of the YearSam Presti (Oklahoma City Thunder)[63]
NBA Sportsmanship AwardJrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)[64]
Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year AwardStephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)[65]
Community Assist Award
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award
NBA Hustle AwardDraymond Green (Golden State Warriors)[66]
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Players of the Week

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.

More information Week, Eastern Conference ...
Week Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref
October 22–27 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) (1/2) Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) [67]
October 28 – November 3 Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/2) Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) (1/1) [68]
November 4–10 Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/2) Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) (1/3) [69]
November 11–17 Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) (1/1) De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings) (1/1) [70]
November 18–24 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) (1/4) Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1) [71]
November 25 – December 1 Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) (1/2) Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets) (1/1) [72]
December 2–8 Tyler Herro (Miami Heat) (1/1) Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks) (1/1) [73]
December 16–22 Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) (1/1) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1) [74]
December 23–29 Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) (1/1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/2) [75]
December 30 – January 5 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) (2/2) Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) (2/3) [76]
January 6–12 Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/2) Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) (1/1) [77]
January 13–19 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) (2/4) Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) (1/2) [78]
January 20–26 Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) (1/1) Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/1) [79]
January 27 – February 2 Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/2) LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) [80]
February 3–9 Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) (1/2) Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) (3/3) [81]
February 24 – March 2 Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) (2/2) Zach LaVine (Sacramento Kings) (1/1) [82]
March 3–9 Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) (2/2) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/2) [83]
March 10–16 Coby White (Chicago Bulls) (1/2) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) [84]
March 17–23 Coby White (Chicago Bulls) (2/2) Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) (1/1) [85]
March 24–30 Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic) (1/1) Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) (2/2) [86]
March 31 – April 6 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) (3/4) Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1) [87]
April 7–13 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) (4/4) James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1) [88]
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Players of the Month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.

More information Month, Eastern Conference ...
Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref
October/November Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) (1/1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/3) [89]
December Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks) (1/1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/3) [90]
January Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) (1/1) Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) (1/1) [91]
February Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/1) LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) [92]
March Coby White (Chicago Bulls) (1/1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) (3/3) [93]
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Defensive Players of the Month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Defensive Players of the Month.

More information Month, Eastern Conference ...
Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref
October/November Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) (1/2) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1) [89]
December Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/2) Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/1) [90]
January Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets) (1/1) [91]
February Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/2) Toumani Camara (Portland Trail Blazers) (1/1) [92]
March Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) (2/2) Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors) (1/1) [93]
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Rookies of the Month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.

More information Month, Eastern Conference ...
Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref
October/November Jared McCain (Philadelphia 76ers) (1/1) Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/1) [89]
December Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) (1/1) Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans) (1/1) [90]
January Kel'el Ware (Miami Heat) (1/1) Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs) (1/2) [91]
February Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) (1/2) Isaiah Collier (Utah Jazz) (1/1) [92]
March Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) (2/2) Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs) (2/2) [93]
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Coaches of the Month

The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.

More information Month, Eastern Conference ...
Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref
October/November Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/2) Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets) (1/2) [89]
December Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/2) Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/3) [90]
January Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets) (2/2) [91]
February J. B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons) (1/1) Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/3) [92]
March Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics) (1/1) Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder) (3/3) [93]
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Arena changes

  • The Los Angeles Clippers have moved to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.[94] The team played at the Crypto.com Arena for the past 25 years in Downtown Los Angeles, California, since the 1999–2000 NBA season. As a result, for the first time since the 1998–99 NBA season, every team will have their own home venue.
  • Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was renamed Rocket Arena on February 18, 2025, as part of the company's rebranding.[95]
  • Footprint Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns, was temporarily renamed PHX Arena on February 18, 2025, after the Suns announced that they were seeking a new naming rights partner.[96]

Uniform and logo changes

  • The Brooklyn Nets promoted their secondary logo to their primary and introduced a new secondary logo.[97]
  • 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 worn 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.[98]
  • The Golden State Warriors unveiled a new secondary logo and "Statement" uniform.[99]
  • The Toronto Raptors unveiled a logo to commemorate their 30th anniversary.[100]
  • The Memphis Grizzlies unveiled a logo and classic uniforms to commemorate their 30th anniversary.[101]
  • The Utah Jazz began 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.[102]
  • The Washington Wizards have a new "Statement" uniform, with the phrase "The District of Columbia" on the front of the jersey.[103]

Media

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National

Linear television

This is 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/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video begin in 2025–26. TNT, in its final year of NBA coverage, has aired live NBA games since 1989.[104][105] The NBA rejected TNT Sports' matching rights offer for Amazon's package, claiming TNT was unable to fully match the terms of Amazon's all-streaming contract. TNT then 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.[106] In November, the two parties agreed to a settlement, with TNT retaining some international live game rights, as well as domestic non-game rights on NBA TV and the NBA's digital platforms. In a separate sublicensing agreement, TNT's Inside the NBA studio show will move to ESPN/ABC in 2025–26.[107][108]

  • ESPN primarily airs games on Wednesday and Friday nights, with a limited selection of games on other days as the schedule allows. On the final day of the regular season, Sunday, April 13, two games with playoff implications will be flexed into ESPN's afternoon doubleheader.[109] ABC airs NBA Saturday Primetime games on eight Saturdays between December and March (including a tripleheader on January 25), and NBA Sunday Showcase games on five Sunday afternoons (including three doubleheaders) in February and March.[109] Additionally, ESPN has exclusive coverage of NBA games on Christmas Day. Originally, of the five Christmas games scheduled, only the middle three games would be simulcast on ESPN and ABC, with the first and last contests only on ESPN.[109] However, in October 2024, it was announced that all five games would be ABC/ESPN simulcasts like in 2022.[110] During the NBA Cup, ESPN aired group stage matches as part of its Friday night coverage, along with one quarterfinal.[111] ABC aired one semifinal and the final of the NBA Cup in primetime.[112] ESPN2 aired an alternate broadcast of the first Christmas game featuring a live animated version of the game featuring Mickey Mouse universe characters.[113] ESPN has the exclusive rights to the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which is part of NBA All-Star Weekend. On February 5, ESPN announced that it had flexed Luka Dončić's expected LA Lakers debut on February 8 (the previous night's Utah vs Phoenix game was flexed out of national television due to this) ,[114] but after he did not play due to injury the network then flexed the Lakers' next game on February 10 (it was later announced that the Sacramento vs LA Clippers game on March 9 was flexed out due to this).[115][116]
  • TNT airs games on Tuesday nights during most of the regular season, and Thursday nights during opening week and after the NBA Cup.[117] Additionally, TNT aired two games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a Monday Doubleheader on March 31. TNT airs select simulcasts or alternative broadcasts of selected games on TruTV.[118] During the NBA Cup, TNT aired the group stage as part of its Tuesday night coverage, along with three quarterfinals and one semifinal.[111] TNT has exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend, except for the Celebrity game.
  • NBA TV televises games when the other national broadcasters are not airing games. NBA TV aired a tripleheader of NBA Cup games on Friday, November 29 and one game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.[119] All NBA games are blacked out in the local markets of the teams playing. Most games simulcast local coverage, but select games are produced by NBA TV as part of its NBA Center Court package of games.

Streaming

This is the second, and last, season that the streaming service Max will have live access to TNT's games.[117]

ESPN+ began streaming ABC's games this season, including the network's two NBA Cup games,[112] NBA Saturday Primetime,[120] and NBA Sunday Showcase.[121] Both ESPN+ and Disney+ streamed the Mickey Mouse-themed alternate Christmas broadcast, the traditional broadcasts of all five Christmas games.[113], Luka Dončić's LA Lakers debut on February 10, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and a Saturday Primetime game on March 8.[115][122][123]

NBA League Pass continues to offer out-of-market games, live access to NBA TV, and on-demand replays of every game.[119]

Local

The Chicago Bulls, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, MLB's Chicago White Sox, and Standard Media launched the Chicago Sports Network prior to the start of this season, replacing NBC Sports Chicago as their regional broadcaster.[124][125]

The Portland Trail Blazers and Root Sports mutually agreed to end their television agreement prior to the season.[126] On September 23, 2024, the Trail Blazers announced that they had signed a multi-year agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to be their new broadcaster. Under the deal, KATU and KUNP were named as the flagship stations, the group of over-the-air stations carrying games across the team's broadcast territory was branded as the Rip City Television Network, and games stream locally on a new direct-to-consumer streaming service named BlazerVision.[127]

Altitude Sports and Entertainment, the television home of the Denver Nuggets, reached an agreement with Tegna Inc. to simulcast 20 games on KTVD in Denver. Select games are being simulcast on KUSA.[128]

This is the first season that the Gotham Sports App, owned by a joint venture between MSG Networks and YES Network, became the exclusive streaming home of the Knicks and Nets. The app will not change the television rights for these teams.[129]

Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy

Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the regional sports network chain FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports), has been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since March 2023. As part of the bankruptcy, on August 23, 2024, Diamond Sports signed a long-term agreement with thirteen of the NBA teams that it holds rights to, committing to broadcast their games through at least the 2024–25 season, but with a 30 to 40 percent reduction in their rights fees. Despite being a long-term deal, if Diamond Sports is unable to get a bankruptcy plan approved by the court, the agreement will expire following the end of the season.[130][131]

Diamond also terminated its contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans,[130][131] and both teams would sign with over-the-air broadcasters. The Mavericks signed a multi-year agreement with Tegna Inc. as their broadcaster, with KFAA (formerly KMPX) and WFAA as flagship stations.[132][133] Meanwhile, the Pelicans announced a new agreement with Gray Television, under which games will be broadcast by the new Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, with WVUE-DT in New Orleans as flagship.[134]

On October 21, Bally Sports rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network, after Diamond ended its sponsorship agreements with Bally's Corporation and entered into a new agreement with online gambling company FanDuel Group.[135][136]

Along with airing on FanDuel Sports Network, the Bucks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Hornets, Pacers, Pistons, Thunder and Timberwolves also announced agreements to simulcast five games on local over-the-air networks. The Bucks will air games on Weigel Broadcasting-owned WMLW-TV (in English) and WYTU-LD (in Spanish).[137] The Cavaliers will air games on Gray Media-owned Rock Entertainment Sports Network and WUAB.[138] The Grizzlies will air games on Gray Media-owned WMC-TV, WSMV-TV and WBXX-TV.[139] The Hawks will air games on Gray Media owned-WPCH-TV and Peachtree Sports Network.[140] The Hornets will air games on Cox Media Group-owned WSOC-TV and WAXN-TV, Gray Media-owned WIS-TV, WCSC-TV, WMBF-TV, WHNS, WITN-DT2 and WECT-DT2, and Capitol Broadcasting Company-owned WRAZ-DT2.[141][142] The Pacers will air games on Tegna Inc.-owned WTHR.[143] The Pistons will air games on E. W. Scripps Company-owned WMYD.[144] The Thunder will air games on Griffin Media-owned KWTV-DT or KSBI (in Oklahoma City) and KOTV-DT or KQCW-DT (in Tulsa).[145] The Timberwolves will air games on Tegna Inc. owned KARE.[146]

On January 2, 2025, Diamond emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and rebranded themselves as the Main Street Sports Group.[147]

Personnel

ESPN analyst JJ Redick left the network to became head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was initially replaced by a cast of rotating analysts joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke on the network's lead announce team.[148] On February 24, ESPN announced that Richard Jefferson will remain with Breen and Burke for the rest of the season.[149]

ESPN analyst Hubie Brown announced his retirement at the end of the season. Brown has called games for ESPN since 2004 and previously called games for USA Network, CBS and TNT.[150] He called his last game on February 9, 2025, during the 76ers–Bucks game.[151]

The Boston Celtics promoted backup TV play-by-play announcer Drew Carter to full time this season following the retirement of Mike Gorman. Carter was hired by the team soon after Gorman announced his retirement prior to the start of 2023–24; Gorman primarily called Celtics home games during his final season while Carter primarily called away games.[152]

The San Antonio Spurs hired Jacob Tobey to be their new TV play-by-play announcer this season following the retirement of Bill Land. Tobey previously held play-by-play roles with Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network.[153]

The Philadelphia 76ers home game on March 3rd, as well as the Boston Celtics home game on March 5th, was called by Mike Tirico, in preparation for his new role as the lead play-by-play announcer on NBC next season. These games marked the first time Tirico called NBA games since the 2015–16 season, while at ESPN.[154]

Notable occurrences

  • On June 27, 2024, Bronny James was selected 55th overall in the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Being the son of current Lakers player LeBron James, they marked the first father-son duo to play together in league history.[155]
  • On July 1, 2024, Jayson Tatum signed a five-year, $314 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, the largest in league history.[157]
  • 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 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.[158]
  • For the third consecutive season, the league did not schedule regular season games on Election Day in the United States, which fell on November 5 in 2024.[1]
  • On October 22, 2024, the Boston Celtics tied the record for the most three-pointers made in a single game with 29 in a win over the New York Knicks.[159]
  • On October 22, 2024, LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for the most field goals missed in NBA history.[160]
  • On October 25, 2024, the Golden State Warriors became the first team in NBA history to open their season with two wins by at least 35 points.[161]
  • On October 25, 2024, LeBron James became the first to record a triple-double in his 22nd season.[162]
  • On October 26, 2024, LeBron James became the oldest player, aged 39 years, 301 days, to lead both teams in points, rebounds, and assists in a game.[163]
  • On October 28, 2024, Kevin Durant became the 8th player to score 29,000 points.[164]
  • On October 31, 2024, Victor Wembanyama became the 3rd player with multiple five-by-fives.[165]
  • On November 6, 2024, Kenny Atkinson set the record for the most wins to start a coach's first season with a new team with 9, with the Cleveland Cavaliers' win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[166] The record was extended to 15 on November 17, 2024, with a victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
  • On November 8, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to win their first ten games while scoring at least 110 points in each game.[167]
  • On November 9, 2024, Victor Wembanyama became the first player in NBA history to have multiple games with at least 20 points, 5 three-pointers, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks.[168]
  • On November 13, 2024, LeBron James became the oldest player, aged 39 years, 319 days, to record three consecutive triple-doubles.[169]
  • On November 13, 2024, Chris Paul became the third player to record 12,000 assists.[170]
  • On November 17, 2024, James Harden passed Ray Allen for 2nd on the league's all-time three-pointers made list.[171]
  • On November 19, 2024, the Boston Celtics ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-game winning streak with a 120–117 victory. The 2024–25 Cavaliers tied the 1948–49 Washington Capitols and the 1993–94 Houston Rockets for having the second-longest winning streak to start a season.[172]
  • On November 19, 2024, Dalton Knecht tied the league record for the most three-pointers by a rookie in a single game, with nine.[173]
  • On November 29, 2024, Zach LaVine passed Kirk Hinrich to become the all-time leader in three-pointers made in Bulls franchise history.[174]
  • On December 1, 2024, James Harden became the second player to reach 3,000 three-pointers.[175]
  • On December 5, 2024, Nikola Jokić passed Magic Johnson for third place in career triple-doubles.[176]
  • On December 8, 2024, Chris Paul passed Jason Kidd for second place in career assists.[177]
  • On December 13, 2024, both the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz broke the record for the most three-pointers made in a non-overtime game, as well as tied the record for the most three-pointers made in single game with 44 made three-pointers between the two teams (22 made by both squads) in Phoenix's 134–126 win over Utah.[178]
  • On December 13, 2024, both the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls broke the record for the most three-pointers missed in a game between two teams with 75 total missed three-pointers by both squads (38 missed attempted by the Hornets, 37 missed attempts by the Bulls) in Chicago's 109–95 win over Charlotte.[179][180] Coincidentally, the two teams would tie the record two weeks later on December 30, with Chicago missing 42 total three-point field goal attempts and Charlotte missing 33 three-point field goal shots this time around in the Bulls' 117–108 overtime win over the Hornets.[181]
  • On December 15, 2024, the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors broke the record for most three-pointers made by both teams in a game with 48 (27 by the Warriors and 21 by the Mavericks) in Dallas' 143–133 win over Golden State.[182]
  • On December 19, 2024, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most regular-season minutes played in NBA history.[183]
  • On December 31, 2024, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to play in the league both as a teenager and during his forties.[184]
  • On January 3, 2025, LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history, with his 563rd game.[185]
  • On January 10, 2025, Nikola Jokić and Russell Westbrook became the first teammates to have triple-doubles in the same game multiple times in the same season.[186]
  • On February 1, 2025, LeBron James became the first player to have multiple triple-doubles at the age of 40.[187]
  • On February 3, 2025, Devin Booker surpassed Walter Davis to become the all-time leading scorer in Suns franchise history.[188]
  • On February 6, 2025, LeBron James became the oldest player, aged 40 years, 38 days, to score 40 points in a game with a 42-point performance against the Golden State Warriors.[189]
  • On February 11, 2025, Kevin Durant became the eighth player to score 30,000 points.[190]
  • On February 25, 2025, Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double in a win against his previous team, the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the 4th player to have a triple-double in the first game against their old team and one of three (LeBron James and Russell Westbrook) players to have a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams.[191]
  • On March 3, 2025, LeBron James became the fourth player to record 1,000 regular season wins with a 108–102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.[192]
  • On March 4, 2025, LeBron James became the first player with 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs.[193]
  • On March 5, 2025, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White became the first teammates to each make 9 or more three-pointers in the same game.[194]
  • On March 7, 2025, Nikola Jokić became the first player with at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists in a game.[195]
  • On March 8, 2025, Stephen Curry became the 26th player to score 25,000 points.[196]
  • On March 13, 2025, Stephen Curry became the first player to make 4,000 career three-pointers.[197]
  • On March 19, 2025, Sandro Mamukelashvili became the first player in NBA history to score 34 points while playing less than 20 minutes.[198]
  • On March 20, 2025, DeMar DeRozan became the 27th player to score 25,000 points.[199]
  • On March 23, 2025, Dyson Daniels became the youngest player with 200 or more steals in a season. He also became the first player since Chris Paul in 2008–09 to reach that mark.[200]
  • On March 28, 2025, the Detroit Pistons secured their first winning season since 2016.[201] They also became the second team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season, joining the 2012–13 Charlotte Bobcats, and the first to do so from the previous full season.[202]
  • On March 31, 2025, in a game against the Charlotte Hornets, the Utah Jazz, who previously hadn't lost 60 or more games in franchise history, suffered their 60th loss of the season, making them the last remaining team in league history to lose at least 60 games in a season.
  • On March 31, 2025, a brawl broke out between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, with five players and two coaches ejected. The five players were issued suspensions.[203]
  • On April 1, 2025, Nikola Jokić put up a triple-double of 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history.[204]
  • On April 4, 2025, the Boston Celtics set the record for most three-pointers in a season with their 1,364th three-pointer by Payton Pritchard in a game against the Phoenix Suns. The previous record was held by the 2022–23 Golden State Warriors.[205]
  • On April 8, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder set the record for most double-digit wins in a season with 51, surpassing the previous mark of 50 set by the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers.[206]
  • On April 9, 2025, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 2nd on the league's regular season games played list, with 1,561.[207]
  • On April 11, 2025, Nikola Jokić became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.[208]
  • On April 13, 2025, Chris Paul became the first player to start all 82 games for his team in his 20th season or later.[209]
  • The Oklahoma City Thunder set the record for highest scoring differential in a season, with +12.9. The previous record of +12.3 was set by the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers.[210]
  • Jarrett Allen became the first player to shoot 70% from the field and 70% from the free throw line in a season.[211]

References

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