When Does Fantasy Basketball Start for 2025-26?

Discover when fantasy basketball starts for the 2025-26 season, key calendar dates and draft prep tools. Get rankings, cheat sheets, ADP values and projections.
When Does Fantasy Basketball Start for 2025-26?
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The fantasy basketball season typically begins just before Opening Night, which officially marks the start of NBA fantasy matchups. The 2025-26 NBA regular season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a marquee doubleheader featuring the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets, followed by Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers.

Preseason action begins Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 17, giving fantasy managers early looks at rookie roles and rotation changes. That means fantasy leagues begin drafting in early-mid October, ensuring managers are rostered and ready well before games are live. Make sure to check out RotoWire's fantasy basketball draft kit to help with your draft.

Key 2025 NBA Fantasy Basketball Calendar Dates

Event

Date

NBA Preseason BeginsOct. 2, 2025
Fantasy Drafts (Typical Window)Late September – Mid-October 2025
NBA Regular Season Begins / Fantasy Leagues StartOct. 21, 2025
NBA Cup Group PlayOct. 31 – Dec. 16, 2025 
NBA All-Star WeekendFeb. 13-15, 2026
Regular Season Ends

April 12, 2026


 

Rosters set for NBA PlayoffsApril 13, 2026 at 3 p.m. (ET)
Play-In TournamentApril 14-17, 2026
NBA Playoffs BeginApril 19, 2026

Draft Prep: Tools to Get You Ahead

Build with the Right Strategy

Success starts with the NBA fantasy draft. Whether it's a snake or auction format, gathering intel early is vital. Tools like fantasy basketball rankings give you a reliable player hierarchy, while the NBA fantasy draft cheat sheet helps you adjust categories and tiers on the fly.

Use Projections to Inform Decisions

Accurate NBA projections offer season-long estimates of scoring, rebounds, assists and other categories. These forecasts help round out your roster beyond the obvious stars.

Auction League Budgeting

If you're in an auction format, understanding fantasy basketball auction values helps you assign realistic dollar amounts so that you're not overspending on a top player and left scrambling later.

Track Market Trends

Watch NBA fantasy ADP to see how others value players. An informed use of ADP helps you avoid overpaying for consensus picks and spot opportunities when players slip in the draft.

Post-Draft: Stay Engaged with Insights

Monitor Minutes and Rotations

Knowing NBA starting lineups as they are announced — or even before — gives you a head start on unexpected role changes that impact fantasy value.

Act Quickly on Injuries

The NBA injury report can make or break you. Injuries create waiver wire goldmines, and being quick to react keeps you ahead of your league.

Season-Long Success Requires Depth

Fantasy basketball isn't won on draft day alone. Your ability to interpret NBA projections, combine them with fantasy basketball rankings and adapt using ADP trends gives you a robust foundation. That, plus staying updated on NBA starting lineups and NBA injury report alerts, ensures you're navigating midseason twists proactively.

If you want a competitive edge through the draft and throughout the season, many fantasy managers choose to subscribe to RotoWire. It provides expert NBA projections, updated rankings, lineup trackers and in-depth injury analysis, all essential for strategic decision-making.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Strotman is a veteran sports journalist who has covered the Chicago Bulls and the NBA for NBC Sports Chicago for about 8 years. His work has also appeared on ESPN.com, FoxSports.com, The Chicago Tribune, Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports. He covered the NBA Playoffs in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 as well as Team USA Basketball in 2014 and 2016. He has also covered high school football and was nominated for a Midwest Emmy in 2016 for his work on a documentary featuring local Chicago product and NFL prospect Miles Boykin.
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