NBA Season Opens with Record 135 International Players

The 2025–26 NBA season opens in October with defending champion Oklahoma City facing Houston and the Lakers meeting the Warriors, and opening-night rosters include a record 135 international players from 43 countries, a record 71 Europeans and at least one international on every team. The league will follow a regular-season, play-in, playoff and in-season NBA Cup calendar running from October through June, with veterans such as LeBron James (entering his 23rd season), James Harden and Russell Westbrook chasing longevity and milestone records. Australia has 14 players under contract as veterans Ben Simmons and Patty Mills lack roster spots for the first time in a decade, while Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels have signed major extensions and taken expanded roles. Other young Australian talents such as Johnny Furphy and Rocco Zikarsky are also gaining attention. Separately, at Kentucky, football coach Mark Stoops is facing mounting criticism amid an almost-$38 million buyout and scrutiny of athletic director Mitch Barnhart, with fans citing John Calipari’s abrupt 2024 exit as precedent fueling calls for change.