As I sit here looking at the NBA calendar, I can't help but feel that familiar excitement building up. The start of a new NBA season is like Christmas morning for basketball fans, and this year promises to deliver some incredible storylines. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've noticed how the season start date has evolved - from the traditional first week of November to the current late October tip-off we've grown accustomed to. The 2023-24 season is scheduled to begin on October 24th, with a thrilling opening night doubleheader that will feature the defending champions Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by the Phoenix Suns visiting the Golden State Warriors.
What many casual fans might not realize is how much preparation goes into these early season games. Players are coming off months of either intense recovery or international competition, and sometimes they're dealing with unexpected challenges right from the opening tip. I remember watching a game last season where a star player was clearly struggling physically throughout the contest. Making that even more impressive was that he was battling a flu in this game. Despite being visibly weakened, he managed to put up 28 points and 12 rebounds - numbers that would be impressive for a healthy player, let alone someone fighting illness. This kind of dedication sets the tone for what we can expect in those crucial early matchups, where teams are still finding their rhythm while dealing with the physical demands of getting back into game shape.
The league has strategically positioned the season to start in late October for several reasons that go beyond basketball. From my perspective as someone who's studied sports business patterns, this timing allows the NBA to capture the sports audience as the MLB World Series concludes and before the NFL playoff push dominates the conversation. The 82-game regular season structure means each team plays approximately 3-4 games per week, though the schedule isn't perfectly balanced - something I've always thought could be improved. Teams on the West Coast tend to have more back-to-backs early in the season, while Eastern Conference squads often get more home games in November. The data shows that teams who start with 5 or more road games in their first 7 contests have historically made the playoffs only 38% of the time, though I should note this statistic might vary slightly depending on which analyst you ask.
There's something magical about those first two weeks of the season when every team still has hope and we get to see how offseason moves are panning out. I'm particularly excited to see how the Milwaukee Bucks adapt to their new coach and how the young Oklahoma City Thunder continue their development. My prediction - which might be controversial - is that we'll see at least two teams from last year's playoff picture miss the postseason entirely, while a couple of surprise squads emerge as contenders. The beauty of the NBA schedule is that every game matters, but those early matchups can set a psychological tone that carries through the entire season. Teams that start 8-2 or better have made the playoffs 89% of the time over the past decade, compared to just 23% for teams that start 2-8.
As we count down the days until opening night, I find myself revisiting classic early-season moments that shaped entire campaigns. The energy in arenas during those first games is absolutely electric - you can feel the optimism radiating from both players and fans. While the marathon of an NBA season has many twists and turns ahead, getting off to a strong start can make all the difference between home-court advantage and fighting for a play-in spot. Whatever happens, I'll be glued to my screen from that first tip-off, ready for another incredible journey through the world's greatest basketball league.