When did the NBA implement its current regular season schedule?

Current Schedule Implementation

The NBA adopted the 82-game regular season schedule starting in the 1984-1985 season. This format increased the number of games from the previous 78-game schedule that had been in place since 1980. Each of the 30 NBA teams plays 41 home games and 41 away games throughout the regular season, which typically runs from October through April.

Why 82 Games

The 82-game schedule was designed to balance several factors including fan attendance, player rest, revenue generation, and fair competition. The number allows each team to play every other team in the league multiple times, with most opponents played multiple times and some opponents played more frequently based on division and conference alignment. This structure ensures that all teams have relatively equal opportunities and challenging schedules.

Schedule Stability

Since 1984, the 82-game format has remained the standard for NBA regular seasons, making it one of the longest-running schedule formats in the league's history. The NBA has occasionally made adjustments to the schedule due to circumstances like labor disputes or the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 82-game total has been the consistent benchmark for nearly four decades.