NBA Training Camps 2025 Start Dates, Schedules and Top Storylines to Watch
The NBA is making noise again.
No, you aren't hearing sneaker squeaks or swishes just yet, but there were a few players in front of microphones with a couple of clubs holding their media day sessions on Tuesday.
Training camps are coming quickly, and a season full of great basketball, edge-of-your-seat drama and super compelling storylines is sure to follow. Speaking of the latter, we'll detail two of the biggest talking points around the league after laying out the starting dates for every teams' training camps.
Training Camp Start Dates
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Wednesday, Sept. 24: Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks
Thursday, Sept. 25: Phoenix Suns
Saturday, Sept. 27: Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, Sept. 29: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
Is the East Already a Two-Team Race?
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Four Eastern Conference clubs cracked the 50-win mark last season. Two should feel great about their chances to repeat the feat, as both the Knicks and Cavaliers returned virtually all of their key contributors.
As for the other two, things aren't nearly as rosy. Both the Celtics and Pacers are down arguably their most important players in Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively, as each is still recovering from Achilles tears suffered during the playoffs. Boston spent this summer cutting costs, and Indiana watched Myles Turner move to Milwaukee in free agency.
If the Celtics and Pacers have been kicked out of the contenders club, can anyone take their place?
The Magic made a bold move for Desmond Bane in hopes that his shooting, scoring and secondary creation can perk up their perimeter attack. The Hawks were opportunistic buyers, acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis and signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Bucks brought in Turner, but they lost Damian Lillard. The Heat added Norman Powell, but then temporarily lost Tyler Herro to foot and ankle surgery. The Sixers have as much on-paper talent as anyone, but that won't matter if they have as many injury problems as last season. The Pistons have all the earmarks of an ascending team, but they're still without an obvious co-star for Cade Cunningham.
In other words, there are teams you could see joining New York and Cleveland at the top of the conference's food chain, but there isn't anyone you'd write into that spot with permanent marker. Maybe that means we're in for some surprises. Or perhaps it just means we already know which two teams will be the last ones standing in the East before this season even starts.
Can Anyone Challenge OKC in the West?
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Common sense says it'll be hard for the Thunder to have a more successful season than they just did. They tallied a franchise-record 68 wins, established the league's new record for the best point differential and then captured their first title since relocating to the Sooner State.
And yet, one glance at the ages on this roster would lead you to believe their best is still to come. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is their fourth-oldest player at 27. His All-Star running mate, Jalen Williams, won't turn 25 until April. Chet Holmgren, who finished second to Victor Wembanyama for the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, is 23.
If Oklahoma City is already this dominant with so many players still ascending, how much better can this team be? And how is anyone else supposed to keep up?
Well, the Nuggets still have three-time MVP Nikola Jokić manning the middle, and they used this summer to build up their depth. The Rockets made a bold move for Kevin Durant (although it remains to be seen how they'll respond to Fred VanVleet's unfortunate ACL tear). The Lakers still have the Luka Dončić-LeBron James tandem intact, and their glaring void at center was filled by former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton.
The Timberwolves have made consecutive treks to the conference finals. The Warriors looked dominant after their Jimmy Butler trade before Stephen Curry's untimely hamstring strain. The Mavericks could be loaded whenever Kyrie Irving can slot alongside Anthony Davis and top pick Cooper Flagg. And the Spurs could be an absolute problem if their young core develops quickly around the Victor Wembanyama-De'Aaron Fox duo.
There are legitimate challengers in the West, and yet it feels fair to wonder how much that matters when the Thunder are so good with so many different internal paths to improvement. The conference feels way too deep to consider anyone a heavy favorite, but OKC also feels deserving of that exact status.
