Everyone eagerly anticipating the release of the schedule for the 2022/23 season will have to wait a little longer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link). Sources tell Stein that the schedule isn’t expected to be revealed until after next week, which puts the date sometime in mid-August.
The league typically releases its schedule during the second week of August, although that has been affected over the past two years by shortened offseasons caused by the pandemic. Last year’s schedule was announced on August 20.
Possible trades involving Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell may be slowing the process this summer as the schedule makers wait to see if any of those situations get resolved before locking in prime TV dates.
A few things are known about the upcoming season, including league-wide media days on September 26, followed by the start of training camps a day later. The Pistons and Bulls will travel to France for the January 19 NBA Paris Game, according to the league’s website, and All-Star Weekend is set for February 17-19 in Salt Lake City.
The preseason schedule is virtually set and will begin with the defending champion Warriors facing the Wizards in Tokyo for a pair of games September 30 and October 2. The Raptors and Jazz will meet October 2 in Edmonton, the Bucks and Hawks will square off October 6 and 8 in Abu Dhabi, and the Raptors and Celtics will play Oct. 15 in Montreal.
Based on past schedules, the 2022/23 regular season will likely tip off on October 18.
And to think the late, great Eddie Gottlieb used to draw up the entire NBA schedule by himself. Without the availability of computers.
And he had to take in mind that the Bulls had to be shipped out West for 2 weeks in November because the Wirtz family (Owners before Reinsdorf) could make more money renting the Old Chicago Stadium from the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Great point. Eddie had to take all of those neutral court games into account.
And he probably had to be in constant contact with every stadium in the NBA constantly. Remember, back in the 70’s, besides the Celtics and Lakers, the NBA was not a money maker like it is today, so if a stadium can get a big concert booked first, the NBA will take a backseat.And the rotary phone was his only tool.
Can you imagine Eddie Gottleib almost having a full league schedule almost complete and then to find out that the Kansas City King’s stadium booked a Barry Manilow concert on a date that he thought he had secured? It would be a domino effect on the whole schedule.
I get it, you hate to schedule a Christmas Day slate of games and find out that after a couple of blockbuster trades, 2 of the teams are rebuilding.
But I do find it funny that you can’t release a schedule pending on possible
Trades.
Anyone besides me remember opening night in 1976? CBS was going to air the Nets vs. the Warriors on Friday night. But the Nets sold Julius Erving to Philadelphia on Wednesday, so there would be no Dr. J debut. They pulled the game in favor of a movie. Turned out it was a hell of a game regardless.
NBA is probably waiting as long as they can for the KD and Kyrie dominoes to fall so they can plug the best matchups in on the marquee days
If anything Minny, Memphis and Cleveland are slowing up the schedule. Three teams that they have to find a way to get on t.v. a lot more.
Which three teams does one pick for a reduction?