The 2026-27 NBA season opens with the Knicks raising a championship banner

The NBA season opens Oct. 20 with New York raising its first championship banner since 1973. That ceremony gives the league a clear starting point: the Knicks are no longer chasing history, and every contender begins by measuring itself against the defending champion.

The first published schedule contains 80 games for each team, with two more determined by NBA Cup results. That structure keeps December flexible and makes the in-season tournament part of regular-season planning rather than a separate exhibition.

The opening week also turns offseason movement into immediate matchups. Miami and Minnesota meet Oct. 21 after major roster changes placed new stars in both cities. Those games carry emotional reunion value, but they also show how quickly new lineups must become functional.

The schedule cannot predict the season, yet it can reveal where pressure arrives first. Banner night tests the champion's continuity. Reunion games test chemistry. The Cup tests depth before winter. The first map of the league says the new order will not get a long runway.