NBA pre-season explained: Key dates for Europe

The NBA season is approaching, and European teams are closely monitoring the market situation as some of the players are still free agents.

Many European basketball fans are also monitoring and hoping their team may bolster the roster with an ex-NBA player. But sometimes there is still confusion about when the players are cut from the rosters and how NBA preseason works.

Training camp

The earliest date NBA teams can have media day is 23rd September, and only under the condition that teams have pre-season games outside of the USA. It is also the same day players are allowed to report to their teams, but not before 11 A.M. local time.

September 24th is the day the NBA training camp starts for teams with pre-season games outside the USA. Before that, players can work out by themselves or with a team, but it isn’t a duty for players under contract to have practice with the team. Training camps help players get into the playing rhythm before the first pre-season games. This season, teams that play pre-season out of the USA are the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, and Brooklyn Nets. All other teams start their training camps on 29th September.

🐐 LeBron James is increasingly losing interest in staying in the NBA, and there are more and more stories suggesting he might continue his career elsewhere. 👀

Which European club do you see him in? 🤔👇

— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 17, 2025

NBA pre-season and roster cuts – key dates

For the European basketball teams looking to sign new players, the most crucial date in October is when preseason ends, which is 17th October. After that, NBA teams have three days to decide who will get cut from their pre-season roster. There are two types of pre-season contracts, Exhibit 9 and Exhibit 10, and the difference between them is important.

Teams can’t have more than six Exhibit 9 contracts, while there is no limit for Exhibit 10. To simplify, Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted into a G-League two-way contract, whereas Exhibit 9 contracts cannot. Also, exhibit 10 players who got waived receive a cash bonus if they sign and stay for the G-League team. The maximum number of players a team can have before the season is 21. Both of these contracts are one-year non-guaranteed, which become guaranteed at the league guarantee date

When preseason ends, the next key date is 20th October. That’s the date by which NBA teams must have their rosters set. The maximum number of players a team can have at the season opening is 15, plus three two-way contracts (which is a part of the CBA change from 2023; before that, it was two). For two-way contracts, there are certain eligibility requirements; teams can’t sign anyone they want on them. Players must have four or fewer NBA seasons in their careers to be eligible for two-way contracts.

The Detroit Pistons have added four new faces to their training camp roster.

All four signings are believed to be Exhibit 10 contracts – non-guaranteed minimum-salary deals that can be converted into two-way contracts.https://t.co/En4UT3rAbb

— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 19, 2025

What does all of this mean for European basketball teams?

Every year, some names happen to come to Europe in October. Last year, it was Lonnie Walker for Zalgiris. In the 2023/24 season, it was Kendrick Nunn who helped Panathinakos win the Euroleague title that year. Some solid names come to Europe right after the NBA season starts, as those players don’t have much choice.

G-League contracts are paying really poorly if you aren’t on two-way, with the average being just 40500$. In Euroleague, contracts are significantly higher, so for players who are surely above G-League level, their best bet is to try going overseas.

🇬🇧🏀 Basketball in the UK is set for a major boost with a £10 million joint investment from the NBA and the UK Government, 💸💰👀

— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 17, 2025

NBA pre-season explained: Key dates for Europe

Tags: