Thunder vs Rockets and other must-watch NBA games during opening week
From Thunder vs Rockets to Cavs vs Knicks, here are the NBA games we’re looking forward to watching.
The NBA is nearly back from its summer break.
The first group of teams will report for training camp this week to tip off the build-up to the 2025-26 season. That means players are about to be in front of the cameras again during media day, and for some it will be the first time facing questions from reporters since another busy offseason full of roster-shifting transactions.
There’s a staggered start to the NBA preseason this year due to its international flavor. League teams are scheduled to play preseason games in Australia, China, United Arab Emirates, Puerto Rico and Canada in the coming weeks before the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The five teams traveling outside North America can report to training camp earlier.
There are plenty of storylines to discuss since the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship. Long-term injuries to Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid suggest the Eastern Conference is wide open for teams such as the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic to break through. The Thunder might still be the favorite to repeat, but the Houston Rockets added Kevin Durant and the Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers and Timberwolves are also dangerous potential contenders entering the preseason. There’s also a brewing investigation related to Kawhi Leonard and salary cap circumvention involving Clippers owner Steve Balmer that could come up.
Here’s when media day is schedule to take place for all 30 NBA franchises, as well as dates for the start of training camp and the first preseason game for every team:
NBA training camp 2025: Media day schedule for every team
Note: The five NBA teams playing international preseason games outside North America this year are allowed to report to training camp five days earlier than the rest of the league’s teams.
Atlanta HawksMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 at Houston RocketsBoston CelticsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 8 at Memphis GrizzliesBrooklyn NetsMedia day: Sept. 23Training camp starts: Sept 24First preseason game: Oct. 4 vs. Hapoel Jerusalem (in Brooklyn)Charlotte HornetsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 5 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (in North Charleston, S.C.)Chicago BullsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 7 at Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 7 vs. Chicago BullsDallas MavericksMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (in Fort Worth, Texas)Denver NuggetsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 4 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (in San Diego)Detroit PistonsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 at Memphis GrizzliesGolden State WarriorsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 5 vs. Los Angeles LakersHouston RocketsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 vs. Atlanta HawksIndiana PacersMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 7 at Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles ClippersMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 9 vs. Guangzhou Loong Lions (in Oceanside, California)Los Angeles LakersMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 3 vs. Phoenix Suns (in Palm Desert, California)Memphis GrizzliesMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 vs. Detroit PistonsMiami HeatMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 4 vs. Orlando Magic (in San Juan, Puerto Rico)Milwaukee BucksMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 at Miami HeatMinnesota TimberwolvesMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 4 vs. Denver Nuggets (in San Diego)New Orleans PelicansMedia day: Sept. 23Training camp starts: Sept. 24First preseason game: Oct. 3 vs. Melbourne United in Melbourne, AustraliaNew York KnicksMedia day: Sept. 23Training camp starts: Sept. 24First preseason game: Oct. 2 vs. 76ers in Abu Dhabi, UAEOklahoma City ThunderMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 5 vs. Charlotte Hornets (in North Charleston, S.C.)Orlando MagicMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 4 vs. Miami Heat (in San Juan, Puerto Rico)Philadelphia 76ersMedia day: Sept. 23Training camp starts: Sept. 24First preseason game: Oct. 2 vs. Knicks in Abu Dhabi, UAEPhoenix SunsMedia day: Sept. 23Training camp starts: Sept. 24First preseason game: Oct. 3 vs. Lakers in Palm Desert, CaliforniaPortland Trail BlazersMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 8 at Golden State WarriorsSacramento KingsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 8 vs. Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio SpursMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 vs. Guangzhou Loong Lions (in San Antonio)Toronto RaptorsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 6 vs. Denver Nuggets (in Vancouver)Utah JazzMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 8 at Houston RocketsWashington WizardsMedia day: Sept. 29Training camp starts: Sept. 29First preseason game: Oct. 12 vs. Toronto Raptors