The 2024–25 NBA season was the 79th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 22, 2024, and ended on April 13, 2025. The NBA held an in-season tournament for the second consecutive year, now called the Emirates NBA Cup, with the Milwaukee Bucks winning it against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco. The play-in tournament was played from April 15 to 18, 2025, followed by the playoffs the next day, and concluded with the finals on June 22, 2025, when the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Finals MVP. This was the first game 7 in the finals since 2016, and the 20th overall.
Transactions
Retirements
On July 2, 2024, Kemba Walker announced his retirement from professional basketball. He joined the Hornets as a player enhancement coach the next day. On August 1, 2024, Gordon Hayward retired from professional basketball. On August 15, 2024, Joe Harris retired from professional basketball. On September 26, 2024, Derrick Rose retired from professional basketball. He played for six different teams in his 16-year career, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2011 with the Chicago Bulls. On September 29, 2024, AJ Griffin announced his retirement from professional basketball to pursue a career in ministry. On October 2, 2024, Ish Smith was hired as a pro scout for the Washington Wizards, thus ending his playing career. Smith played for a record 13 NBA franchises in his 14 years in the NBA, and won an NBA championship in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. On October 10, 2024, Danny Green retired from professional basketball. Green played with six different teams in his 14-year career, and is one of the four players to win NBA championships with three different teams. On October 29, 2024, Rudy Gay announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Draft The first round of the 2024 NBA draft took place on June 26, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The second round took place the next day at ESPN's Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.
The Atlanta Hawks take French teen Zaccharie Risacher as the #1 overall pick.
Free agency Free agency negotiations began on June 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET. Players were officially signed after the July moratorium on July 6 at 12 p.m. ET.
Notable moves
Paul George signed a four-year, $212 million max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Klay Thompson was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks from the Golden State Warriors on a three-year, $50 million contract in a sign-and-trade after he entered free agency. Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Denver Nuggets.
Re-signings
Jayson Tatum agrees to 5-year max extension with the Celtics. Jalen Green agrees to 3-year extension with the Rockets. Pascal Siakam returns on 4-year deal with the Pacers. James Harden returns on 2-year deal with the Clippers. LeBron James returns on 2-year deal with the Lakers. Bam Adebayo signs 3-year extension with the Heat. Jalen Brunson agrees to 4-year extension with the Knicks. Franz Wagner agrees to 5-year extension with the Magic. Joel Embiid agrees to 3-year extension with the 76ers. Scottie Barnes agrees to 5-year extension with the Raptors. Lauri Markkanen agrees to 5-year extension with the Jazz. Stephen Curry agrees to 1-year extension with the Warriors.
Notable trades Chicago Bulls acquire Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Alex Caruso. New York Knicks acquire Karl-Anthony Towns in 3-team trade. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo join the Minnesota Timberwolves. DeMar DeRozan joins the Sacramento Kings after trade by Chicago Bulls for Chris Duarte. Harrison Barnes was sent to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the 3-team trade. Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in 3-team trade. Anthony Davis and Max Christie join the Dallas Mavericks and Jalen Hood-Schifino joins the Utah Jazz. Hood-Schifino was released by the team and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sacramento Kings traded De'Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin to the San Antonio Spurs, which moved Zach LaVine and Sidy Cissoko to Sacramento. The Bulls received Zach Collins, Tre Jones from San Antonio, and Kevin Huerter from Sacramento. The Milwaukee Bucks traded Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma. The Golden State Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat in exchange for Kyle Anderson and Andrew Wiggins in 5-team trade. Miami also got Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors, Dennis Schröder and Lindy Waters III move from Golden State to the Detroit Pistons, Toronto acquire P. J. Tucker from the Utah Jazz, and Utah gets Josh Richardson from Miami. KJ Martin is also sent from Detroit to Utah as part of the 5-team trade after the Pistons had previously acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier that day. The Toronto Raptors acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans in a 3-player deal involving Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk. The Washington Wizards acquired Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, Alex Len, and a 2025 first-round pick from the Grizzlies. The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired forward De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. In exchange, Atlanta received Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks (2027, 2029, 2031), and two pick swaps. The Atlanta Hawks traded veteran guard Bogdan Bogdanović to the LA Clippers in exchange for guards Terance Mann and Bones Hyland.
Coaching changes + Coaching changes Team 2023–24 season 2024–25 seasonOff-season Brooklyn Nets Kevin Ollie (interim) Jordi Fernández Charlotte Hornets Steve Clifford Charles Lee Cleveland Cavaliers J. B. Bickerstaff Kenny Atkinson Detroit Pistons Monty Williams J. B. Bickerstaff Los Angeles Lakers Darvin Ham JJ Redick Phoenix Suns Frank Vogel Mike Budenholzer Washington Wizards Brian Keefe (interim) Brian KeefeIn-season Sacramento Kings Mike Brown Doug Christie (interim) Memphis Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins Tuomas Iisalo (interim) Denver Nuggets Michael Malone David Adelman (interim) San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich Mitch Johnson (interim)
Off-season On April 3, 2024, the Charlotte Hornets announced that Steve Clifford would step down as head coach at the end of the 2023–24 season and move into a front-office advisory role. On April 22, 2024, the Brooklyn Nets hired Jordi Fernández as their new head coach. On May 3, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers fired their head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons with the team. On May 9, 2024, the Charlotte Hornets hired Charles Lee as their new head coach. On May 9, 2024, the Phoenix Suns fired their head coach Frank Vogel after only one season with the team. On May 11, 2024, the Phoenix Suns hired Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach. On May 23, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired their head coach J. B. Bickerstaff after five seasons with the team. On May 29, 2024, the Washington Wizards hired Brian Keefe as their full-time head coach. On June 19, 2024, the Detroit Pistons fired their head coach Monty Williams after one season of coaching the team. On June 24, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick as their new head coach. On June 28, 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers hired Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach. On July 3, 2024, the Detroit Pistons hired J. B. Bickerstaff as their new head coach.
In-season On November 2, 2024, Gregg Popovich suffered a mild stroke. Mitch Johnson was named the interim head coach. On December 27, 2024, the Sacramento Kings fired their head coach Mike Brown. Doug Christie was named the interim head coach. On March 28, 2025, the Memphis Grizzlies fired their head coach Taylor Jenkins after six seasons with the team. Tuomas Iisalo was named the interim head coach. On April 8, 2025, the Denver Nuggets fired their head coach Michael Malone after 10 seasons with the team. David Adelman was named the interim head coach.
Preseason In addition to regular preseason games hosted at NBA teams' own arenas, the NBA often hosts neutral site preseason games (either in domestic non-NBA markets or foreign markets) or against non-NBA teams. Listed below are only those neutral site or preseason games.
Domestic neutral site games +DateTeamsArenaLocationReferenceWinnerOctober 4Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles LakersAcrisure ArenaPalm Desert, CaliforniaMinnesota TimberwolvesOctober 5Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State WarriorsStan Sheriff CenterHonolulu, HawaiiGolden State WarriorsOctober 6Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles LakersAcrisure ArenaPalm Desert, CaliforniaPhoenix SunsWashington Wizards vs. Toronto RaptorsBell CentreMontreal, QuebecToronto RaptorsOctober 8Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles ClippersFrontwave ArenaOceanside, CaliforniaLos Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns vs. Detroit PistonsBreslin CenterEast Lansing, MichiganPhoenix SunsOctober 11Philadelphia 76ers vs. Minnesota TimberwolvesWells Fargo ArenaDes Moines, IowaMinnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Climate Pledge ArenaSeattle, WashingtonLos Angeles ClippersOctober 15Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers T-Mobile ArenaParadise, NevadaGolden State Warriors
International games
+DateTeamsArenaLocationReferenceWinnerOctober 4Boston Celtics vs. Denver NuggetsEtihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesBoston CelticsOctober 6Denver Nuggets vs. Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Non-NBA opponents
+DateTeamsArenaLocationReferenceWinnerOctober 4New Zealand Breakers @ Utah JazzDelta CenterSalt Lake City, UtahUtah JazzOctober 7New Zealand Breakers @ Philadelphia 76ersWells Fargo CenterPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia 76ersOctober 10New Zealand Breakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder BOK CenterTulsa, OklahomaOklahoma City ThunderOctober 16Ratiopharm Ulm @ Portland Trail BlazersModa CenterPortland, OregonPortland Trail Blazers
Regular season The majority of the regular season was released on August 15, with those group play games counting as part of the in-season tournament, now branded as the NBA Cup, announced two days earlier on August 13. The two games that were dependent on the results of the in-season tournament, along with the knockout round schedule, were announced at the conclusion of group play (see details below).
The Spurs played two alternate-site games at the Moody Center at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas in February, when the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo took over Frost Bank Center.
International games
+DateTeamsArenaLocationReferenceWinnerNBA Mexico City Game 2024November 2Miami Heat vs Washington WizardsMexico City ArenaMexico City, MexicoMiami HeatNBA Paris Games 2025January 23Indiana Pacers vs San Antonio SpursAccor ArenaParis, FranceSan Antonio SpursJanuary 25San Antonio Spurs vs Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
Emirates NBA Cup
The NBA Cup, formerly the In-season tournament, returned for the 2024–25 season, with the same structure:
All games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings. Six intraconference pools of five (three pools per conference). Tuesdays and Fridays Between November 12 and December 3 featured group games against each of the other teams in their pool (two at home and two on the road). These games still count as regular season games. The winners of each pool (three teams per conference) and two wild-card teams (one team per conference) advanced to a single-elimination tournament. The semifinals and championship game were again played in Las Vegas. Players for the tournament champion each received $514,971.