How Many NBA Games Are Played Per Week During the Regular Season?

The other night I was sitting at a bar with my old college buddy Mike, watching Golden State take on the Lakers on the screen above the whiskey bottles. We’ve had this tradition for years—meeting up mid-week to catch a game, dissect plays, and argue about MVP candidates. But this time, Mike leaned over and asked me something that made me pause with my glass halfway to my lips: "Seriously, how many NBA games are played per week during the regular season?" I laughed. It’s one of those questions that seems simple until you really think about it.

See, I’ve been an NBA junkie since I was a kid collecting basketball cards and pretending to be Michael Jordan in my driveway. Over the years, I’ve tracked schedules, followed player trades, and even planned vacations around playoff games. But Mike’s question got me reflecting not just on the numbers, but on what they mean for the players, the fans, and the rhythm of the season itself. I remember back in 2018, I tried to watch every single game of one team for a month—let’s just say my sleep schedule has never fully recovered. That’s the beauty and chaos of the NBA regular season: it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and the weekly game count is what keeps the engine running.

So, let’s break it down. The NBA regular season typically spans about 26 weeks, from mid-October to mid-April, with each of the 30 teams playing 82 games. If you do the quick math—and trust me, I’ve spent more time on this than I’d like to admit—that averages out to roughly 99 to 105 games per week across the league. Yeah, you heard that right. Some weeks are lighter, like around the All-Star break, where you might only get 20-30 games, but during peak periods, you could see up to 50 games crammed into a single week. It’s a relentless grind, and as a fan, it’s both exhilarating and exhausting trying to keep up.

This made me think about the players’ perspective. I recalled an interview I read a while back with a PBA veteran—though I can’t recall his name off the top of my head—who talked about the pride of playing for top teams like Ginebra or San Miguel. He said something that stuck with me: "I’m so thankful that I got to play for Ginebra. If you ask anybody in the PBA, they want to play for Ginebra or San Miguel. I got to play for both. We will see what happens in the future. But right now, I’m focusing on this conference. Hopefully, we make the playoffs at least and we will get a chance to compete when it counts the most. Looking forward to everyday." That quote resonates because, in the NBA, the weekly game load is what separates the contenders from the pretenders. Players have to balance that daily grind with the bigger picture—staying healthy, building chemistry, and peaking when it matters, just like that PBA star emphasized.

From my own experience, I’ve noticed how the schedule ebbs and flows. Take last season, for instance: in the first week of November, there were around 45 games, but by late March, it felt like every night was a showdown with playoff implications. I love those packed weeks—the back-to-backs, the cross-country flights, the surprise upsets—but I’ll admit, it can be overwhelming. I once tried to watch five games in one day during a holiday marathon, and by the fourth overtime thriller, my eyes were glazing over. Yet, that’s what makes the NBA special; the sheer volume of games means there’s always a story unfolding, whether it’s a rookie’s breakout performance or a veteran’s clutch shot.

Now, circling back to Mike’s question, the answer isn’t just a number—it’s a reflection of the league’s structure and the dedication it demands. In my opinion, the NBA could tone it down a bit to reduce player fatigue, but honestly, I’d miss the chaos. There’s something magical about flipping through channels on a Tuesday night and stumbling upon a game that turns into an instant classic. So next time you’re wondering how many NBA games are played per week during the regular season, remember it’s not just about the count; it’s about the journey, the daily grind that players embrace, and the shared excitement that keeps fans like me coming back for more. As for Mike, he just shrugged and said, "Well, that explains why you’re always tired." Yeah, maybe, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.