<Li> On October 3, 2017, the NBA and NBPA announced the changes to the NBA All - Star Game format . The vote leaders for each conferences will be assigned as team captains and will be able to select players from the rest of the starters and the reserves, regardless of the conference they play in, to form their own teams . The newly formed teams will also play for a charity of choice to help the games remain competitive . This marks the first time, the conferences will not play against each other since the inaugural All - Star game . Selection process will remain the same . </Li> <Li> On October 17, 2017, season opener with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Boston Celtics, Gordon Hayward landed awkwardly on his ankle with his behind after attempting an alley - oop off a pass from Kyrie Irving . He suffered a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia five minutes into the game in his debut as a Celtic . </Li> <Li> On October 18, 2017, Brooklyn Nets point guard Jeremy Lin fell to the ground hard after making a layup when playing the Indiana Pacers, causing him to miss the entire season . He suffered a ruptured patellar tendon of his right knee . </Li> <Li> On October 19, 2017, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook recorded his 80th career triple - double . </Li>

When is the first game of the 2018 nba season