The NBA is moving into the final stretch of the offseason, with teams beginning media days and preparing to open training camps ahead of the 2026/27 regular season.
While there are no NBA games scheduled for September 23, the league is already buzzing with storylines surrounding major offseason moves, new-look contenders and several veteran stars preparing for another campaign.
Rockets demand more after consecutive first-round exits
The Houston Rockets became the first NBA team to hold media day on Tuesday, with head coach Ime Udoka making it clear that simply reaching the playoffs is no longer enough.
Houston won 52 regular-season games in each of the past two seasons but suffered first-round playoff eliminations on both occasions.
Udoka said the team wants to “make some real noise” this season rather than plateau after another strong regular season. The Rockets will begin their preseason with two games against the Dallas Mavericks in Macao on October 9 and 11.
The Rockets’ offseason has also been significant, with Kevin Durant now part of a revamped squad as Houston looks to make a deeper postseason run.
Giannis and Klay headline Miami’s new-look roster
One of the biggest changes of the offseason has taken place in Miami, where the Heat acquired two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee.
The Heat have also added Klay Thompson, creating a dramatically different roster around Bam Adebayo.
Miami finished 10th in the Eastern Conference last season with a 43-39 record before losing in the SoFi Play-In Tournament. The arrival of Antetokounmpo and Thompson has consequently transformed the expectations surrounding the team.
Adebayo and Antetokounmpo will form a formidable frontcourt combination, while Thompson provides another established perimeter scoring option.
Lakers enter another season with Luka Dončić at the centre of attention
The Los Angeles Lakers are also preparing for a major season, with Luka Dončić returning to Los Angeles ahead of media day.
Dončić led the NBA in scoring last season at 33.5 points per game, according to reports, and the Lakers have continued reshaping their roster around the Slovenian superstar.
The Lakers’ offseason additions include Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy and Matisse Thybulle, while Austin Reaves agreed to a four-year extension.
The team will also have another major storyline surrounding LeBron James, who is entering another season at the top level.
Defending champions Knicks face major expectations
The New York Knicks enter the new campaign as defending NBA champions after winning their first title in 53 years.
Their championship defence will begin with an eye-catching home opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20.
That matchup has attracted considerable attention because Philadelphia dramatically reshaped its roster during the offseason, bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The Knicks have also been dealing with a ticketing controversy after an internal pricing error resulted in unusually high prices for some early ticket buyers. The organisation said it would adjust prices and refund the difference to affected customers.
NBA’s veteran coaching story: Doc Rivers retires
One of the league’s biggest off-court stories is the retirement of Doc Rivers from coaching.
Rivers, 65, confirmed that he is “absolutely retired” from coaching and will instead work as an analyst for NBC Sports during the 2026/27 season.
His coaching career ended after he stepped down from the Milwaukee Bucks in April. Rivers spent 27 seasons as an NBA head coach, compiling a 1,194-866 record and ranking sixth on the league’s all-time coaching victories list.
He also guided the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.
Warriors’ 2026 draft pick heads to Italy
The Golden State Warriors are also making headlines after second-round draft pick Lajae Jones agreed to begin his professional career in Italy.
Jones, selected 54th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, will play for Pallacanestro Trieste in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A after not signing a contract with Golden State.
The Warriors retain his draft rights while he develops overseas.
Training camps almost here
The NBA’s 2026/27 calendar is now moving rapidly towards the new season.
The Dallas Mavericks will hold their media day on September 25, while the other 28 teams are scheduled for media day on September 28. Training camps open on September 29, with preseason games beginning on October 3.
The first preseason games will include Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat in Quebec City, while Dallas and Houston will meet in the NBA China Games in Macao.
The regular season will then bring together a number of intriguing new combinations: Giannis and Klay in Miami, Kevin Durant in Houston, Luka Dončić leading the Lakers, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia, and the Knicks beginning their title defence.
With training camps about to begin, the NBA offseason is effectively entering its final chapter. The next major developments will come when players report, coaches begin evaluating their new-look rosters and preseason basketball finally gets underway.
