Find Out When the NBA Playoffs Start and Key Dates for This Season

As I sit here scrolling through basketball forums and checking my calendar, I realize we're approaching that magical time of year again – the NBA playoffs. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I can confidently say this is when the real season begins. The intensity ramps up, every possession matters, and we get to witness basketball at its absolute finest. While researching for this piece, I came across an interesting quote from coach Yeng Guiao that perfectly captures how some view the regular season in comparison: "Wala naman 'yun. Ano lang 'yun, sidelights lang. Hindi naman siya actually nagma-matter doon sa laro." This translates to those regular season moments being just sidelights that don't truly matter when compared to playoff basketball, and frankly, I couldn't agree more.

The NBA playoffs typically begin in mid-April, right after the regular season concludes. This year, I'm anticipating the play-in tournament to run from April 11-14, serving as the thrilling prelude to the main event. Based on the league's recent patterns, the first round of the playoffs should tip off around April 15. These dates aren't just random markers on the calendar – they represent the culmination of an entire season's worth of effort, strategy, and determination. I've always found the transition from the 82-game marathon of the regular season to the sprint of the playoffs absolutely fascinating. The atmosphere changes, the media coverage intensifies, and even casual fans suddenly become deeply invested in every game.

Looking back at last year's playoffs, which concluded around mid-May for the conference finals and extended into June for the finals, I'm expecting a similar timeline this season. The conference semifinals typically begin about a week after the first round concludes, usually around late April or early May. Then we get the conference finals in mid-to-late May, setting the stage for the NBA Finals in early June. Last year's finals started on June 1, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar start date this year, probably between June 1-5. What makes these dates particularly exciting for me is how they transform the basketball landscape. Suddenly, every game becomes must-watch television, and my schedule revolves around tip-off times.

The beauty of the playoff structure lies in its unpredictability. While the regular season gives us about 1,230 games to analyze and dissect, the playoffs strip away all that noise and focus on pure competition. I remember back in 2019 when the Toronto Raptors, who finished the regular season with 58 wins, went on that incredible championship run. That's exactly what Guiao meant about regular season achievements being "sidelights" – because when Kawhi Leonard hit that iconic buzzer-beater against Philadelphia, nobody cared about their regular season record anymore. Those playoff moments are what truly define legacies and create basketball history.

From a practical standpoint, knowing these key dates helps fans like me plan our viewing parties, arrange schedules, and mentally prepare for the emotional rollercoaster ahead. The NBA typically releases the full playoff schedule about a week before the playoffs begin, but based on my experience, we can make educated guesses. The second round usually starts around April 29 to May 1, while the conference finals generally begin between May 17-19. The finals, as mentioned, typically start in early June, with Game 7 potentially falling around June 18 if the series goes the distance. These dates matter because they represent opportunities for players to cement their legacies and for fans to witness basketball history in the making.

What I find particularly compelling about this season's playoff timeline is how it sets up for the Paris Olympics in late July. Teams with players participating in the Olympics will be especially mindful of managing minutes and recovery time, which could add another strategic layer to the postseason. Having watched how championship runs can affect players' international commitments in the past, I'm curious to see how coaches balance the immediate goal of winning an NBA title with their players' long-term health and international duties.

The financial implications are staggering too – playoff games generate approximately 40-50% more revenue than regular season games for both the league and teams. But beyond the numbers, it's about the stories that unfold. I still get chills thinking about last year's playoffs, particularly the Denver Nuggets' championship run. Their journey exemplified how the regular season truly is just preparation for the main event. Nikola Jokić's dominant postseason performance, where he averaged nearly 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, demonstrated how great players elevate their game when it matters most.

As we approach this year's playoffs, I'm particularly excited about potential matchups. The Western Conference looks incredibly deep, while the Eastern Conference has several teams that could make surprising runs. The play-in tournament has added such an exciting dynamic to the postseason landscape, giving more teams hope and creating additional compelling storylines. I've always believed the NBA's decision to implement the play-in tournament was brilliant – it keeps more franchises engaged deeper into the season and provides fans with additional high-stakes basketball.

Reflecting on coach Guiao's perspective, I've come to appreciate how the regular season serves as the foundation, but the playoffs are the cathedral we build upon it. All those months of games, statistics, and narratives ultimately distill into these precious playoff moments that we remember for years. The anticipation builds with each passing week in April, and by the time the first playoff game tips off, the entire basketball world is watching. That's the magic of the NBA playoffs – they transform the sport from entertainment into something closer to art, where every possession carries weight and every game could produce an iconic moment that becomes part of basketball lore. As both a longtime analyst and passionate fan, I can't wait to see what stories unfold this postseason.