NBA

Why there are no NBA games on Election Day

The league is encouraging the basketball community to vote and participate in civic engagement

NBC Universal, Inc.

The NBA season is off and running, but it is taking a quick break in the action on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

For the third straight year, the league will not have any games on Election Day.

Here is a look at why the NBA made the decision:

Why are there no NBA games on Election Day?

In 2022, the NBA announced that the league would not hold any games on Election Day and encouraged teams, players and fans to vote in their respective communities while amplifying the importance of civic engagement. It continued that initiative in 2023 and is keeping it going for 2024.

"The league will continue to encourage fans and the broader NBA community to make a plan to vote and participate in the civic process," the league said in its official 2024-25 schedule release. "As part of this initiative, the NBA will share important resources from voting organizations and highlight the civic engagement work of teams in their markets."

Ahead of Election Day, all 30 NBA teams will play on Monday, Nov. 4. The first of 15 games will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET, and each subsequent matchup will begin 15 minutes apart.

Which days have zero NBA games?

Election Day is one of the few days throughout the NBA regular season that features zero games.

The league takes Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off, and the NBA All-Star break runs from Feb. 14-19, 2025.

Election Day also marks the only Tuesday in November that will not feature NBA Cup games. The in-season tournament will tip-off on Nov. 12 and continue through Dec. 17.

When will the NBA resume after Election Day?

Following Election Day, the NBA will get right back into things with 12 games on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Are there games in other sports on Election Day?

There are 11 NHL games on tap for Tuesday, along with dozens of games across men’s and women’s college basketball.

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