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.

2012 KEY NBA CALENDAR DEADLINE DATES

September 28: 2012 NBA Team Media Days for teams competing in international preseason contests

September 29: 2012 NBA Training Camps open for practice for teams competing in international preseason contests

October 1: 2012 NBA Team Media Days

October 2: 2012 NBA Training Camps open for practice

October 5: NBA preseason begins October 26: NBA preseason ends

October 29: Roster set for Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)

October 30: 2012-13 NBA regular season start date

2013 KEY NBA CALENDAR DEADLINE DATES

January 7: 10-day Contracts can now be signed

January 10: All Contracts are guaranteed for remainder of the season

January 17: NBA London Live 2013 (New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons at The 02)

February 15-17: 2013 NBA All-Star (Houston)

February 21: 2013 NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

April 10-13: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Portsmouth, VA)

April 17: Regular Season ends

April 18: Random reminder to read InsideHoops.com every day

April 20: 2013 NBA Playoffs begin

April 28: NBA Draft Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)

May 7: Conference Semifinals begin (possible move-up to May 6)

May 21: 2013 NBA Draft Lottery

May 22: Conference Finals begin (possibly move-up to May 21)

June 6: The Finals begin (possible move-up to June 4)

June 17: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)

June 20: Last possible date for 2013 NBA Finals (possible move-up to June 18)

June 27: Date of 2013 NBA Draft


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2011 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.