The key facts

  • The NBA 2026/27 season opens on October 20 with a Detroit Pistons – Boston Celtics game in Detroit
  • Three Turkish players: Sengun (Houston), Bona (Philadelphia), Biberovic (debut with Dallas)
  • Play-in April 13–16, playoffs from April 17, 2027 All-Star Game in Phoenix February 19–21

Season Opening

The NBA 2026/27 season — the 81st in league history — begins on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. One game will take place on the opening day: the Detroit Pistons will host the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena in Michigan. Tip-off is at 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Turkish Players

According to the outlet, three Turkish players will compete in the league: Alperen Sengun — with the Houston Rockets, Adem Bona — with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Tarik Biberovic will make his NBA debut season with the Dallas Mavericks. Two-time All-Star Sengun, according to Anadolu, aims to return the Rockets to the playoffs, while Philadelphia, with a strengthened roster including LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, will contend for top spots.

Sengun's Sixth Season

The 24-year-old Sengun begins his sixth NBA season. Last season he averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 block per game, and Houston finished fifth in the West. As Anadolu notes, Sengun became the first Turkish player to make two consecutive All-Star Games and helped the Rockets reach the playoffs for the second time in his career.

Teams and Stars in Focus

The outlet names the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks among the favorites. According to Anadolu, the Knicks will begin their title defense, the Spurs will be led by Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, and the Thunder, who have been among the leading teams in recent seasons, are again aiming for the championship. LeBron James, according to the outlet, will begin his 24th NBA season with Philadelphia after stints with Cleveland, Miami and the Lakers. The league's all-time leading scorer, the 41-year-old James will extend his record for most seasons played; he has four championships, four regular-season MVP titles and four Finals MVP awards.

Playoff Calendar

The regular season will end on April 11, 2027. From April 13 to 16, the play-in tournament will take place, in which teams from 7th to 10th place in each conference will compete for the final four playoff spots. The playoffs start on April 17. The 2027 All-Star Game will be held in Phoenix from February 19 to 21.