Football has become a year-round sport, but perhaps no other league in American pro sports dominates the sports news cycle for all 12 months like the NBA. When it comes to the Trail Blazers, the last few months have been consumed by The Damian Lillard Trade Saga, but somewhat of a break is on the horizon for Portland fans: NBA training camp.
The Blazers’ preseason slate kicks off on Oct. 12, while the opening game of the regular season is set for Oct. 25 with a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
While training camp in the NBA may not be as newsworthy and exciting as it is in the NFL, it’s still the first real glimpse fans will get of the 2023-24 version of the Trail Blazers. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Portland’s preparation for what will likely be another rebuilding campaign.
When does NBA training camp start?
There are a few dates surrounding training camp that only matter for two teams and their rosters.
Players on teams participating in preseason games overseas in Abu Dhabi (the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves) are allowed to report to training camp on Sept. 26, with training camp for those squads officially starting on Sept. 27.
Oct. 2 is the first allowable date for all other players to report to camp, while all training camps open on Oct. 3.
So there it is. Fans can look forward to real, actual basketball-related Blazers activities on Oct. 3 with a real, actual game on Oct. 12 and a real, actually meaningful game on Oct. 25.
That’s not too far away. Who knows if training camp will arrive with a major Lillard media circus, but regardless, Portland’s ’23-24 season will officially begin on Oct. 3.