The NBA’s 2026-27 opening week comes with an NBA ID push built around the Season Start Challenge, a four-step digital program running from Oct. 19 through Oct. 25 that includes a badge for completion and a sweepstakes tied to the Emirates NBA Cup championship.
Key takeaways
- Fans can enter through a free NBA ID account and complete four featured platform activities.
- The challenge includes team selection, Ask NBA, Game Pulse and Tap to Watch.
- Completing every activity unlocks a Season Start Challenge badge.
- Eligible participants in the United States and Canada, except Québec, can receive an entry for a trip for two to the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Championship.
- The new season opens with major roster changes, including LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami and LaMelo Ball in Minnesota.
Four stops on the opening-week checklist
Participants must sign in, open the Season Start Challenge and choose the Join option before working through the four activities. Progress can be monitored within the challenge as each item is finished.
The first assignment is to favorite an NBA team, setting up a personalized feed for its schedule, scores and standings. The second sends fans to Ask NBA, where they can submit a question while exploring league statistics, historical marks and player stories.
Game Pulse is the third feature in the sequence, offering a closer read on live action beyond the standard box score. The final task, Tap to Watch, is designed to direct fans toward available game-viewing options.
Finishing the full set earns the digital Season Start Challenge badge, marking the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign.
Cup trip adds a stakes element
Eligible users who complete the requirements under the official rules between Oct. 19 and Oct. 25 can receive a sweepstakes entry for a trip for two to the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Championship. The opportunity is limited to qualifying residents of the United States and Canada, with Québec excluded, and the entry does not assure a prize.
The Cup enters the season with the New York Knicks carrying recent history: last season they became the first club to capture both the Emirates NBA Cup and the NBA Finals in the same year. The league’s new landscape, meanwhile, features headline moves that put James and Brown in Philadelphia, Antetokounmpo with the Heat and Ball alongside the Timberwolves.
