The NBA calendar, updated once every six months, shows NBA deadlines and key NBA dates. The NBA deadlines tend to be around the same time each year, but the lockout changed the 2011-12 schedule around quite a bit. The most important key NBA date during the regular season is the trade deadline, which in 2012 is on March 15. Other key NBA deadlines are listed below. The dates generally never, ever change once they're set, but if by some crazy chance anything does change it'll be updated below. This page was last updated in February of 2012.

Also see the NBA schedule of daily games.

2011 KEY NBA DEADLINE DATES

November 26, 2011: Agreement to end NBA lockout was reached. Both sides still had to vote to approve the deal, and did so about a week later.

December 9, 2011: NBA training camps and free agency began

December 16, 2011: Start of a shortened preseason, with each team playing a total of two preseason games.

December 25, 2011: The 66-game, 2011-12 NBA regular season begins.

2012 KEY NBA DEADLINE DATES

February 24-26: 2012 NBA All-Star weekend

March 15, 2012: Date of NBA trade deadline

April 26, 2012: End of NBA regular season.

April 28, 2012: Start of NBA playoffs.

June 26, 2012: Last possible NBA Finals date.

June 28, 2012: Date of 2012 NBA draft. This is not yet official.

More key NBA dates will be posted here when they exist.


NBA LOCKOUT CALENDAR: LIST OF KEY NBA LOCKOUT DATES

September 23: NBA training camps were postponed. NBA preseason games between October 9-15 were canceled.

October 4: Remainder of NBA preseason was canceled.

October 10: First two weeks of NBA regular season was canceled.

October 28: Games through November 30 were canceled.

November 15: Games through December 15 were canceled.

November 26: Tentative agreement to end the NBA lockout was reached.