<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> NBA seasons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 2016--17 2018--19 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2017--18 NBA season is the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 17, 2017, earlier than previous seasons to reduce the number of "back - to - back" games teams are scheduled to play, with the 2017 Eastern Conference champion (and Finals runner--up) Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio Christmas games were played on December 25, 2017 . The 2018 NBA All - Star Game was played on February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California . LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the All - Star Game Most Valuable Player . The regular season will end on April 11, 2018 and the playoffs will begin on April 14, 2018 . </P> <Ul> <Li> On July 17, 2017, Paul Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the Boston Celtics and officially retired as a Celtic after playing 19 seasons and winning one championship with the Celtics in 2008 . </Li> <Li> On July 19, 2017, James Jones was announced to be the vice president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns, which signified his retirement after playing 14 seasons and winning two championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 and one championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 . </Li> <Li> On August 4, 2017, Jason Maxiell signed a ceremonial contract with the Detroit Pistons and officially retired after playing 10 seasons . </Li> <Li> On August 15, 2017, Tayshaun Prince was announced to be assistant general manager for the Memphis Grizzlies, which signified his retirement after playing 15 seasons and winning one championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 . </Li> <Li> On September 2, 2017, Primož Brezec announced his retirement after 21 professional seasons . Brezec had played in Russia, Cyprus, Kuwait, and his native country Slovenia since last playing in the NBA during the 2009--10 NBA season . </Li> <Li> On October 23, 2017, Metta World Peace was hired as player development coach for the South Bay Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA G League affiliate, thus ending his 18 - year playing career with the NBA . During his career, he won one championship with the LA Lakers in 2010 . </Li> <Li> On November 19, 2017, David Lee announced his retirement from the NBA via Instagram. Lee won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors back in 2015 . </Li> <Li> On December 11, 2017, Matt Barnes announced his retirement from the NBA via Instagram . Barnes won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in June 2017 . </Li> <Li> On February 8, 2018, Caron Butler announced his retirement after 14 professional seasons . Butler won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 . </Li> <Li> On February 19, 2018, Tiago Splitter announced his retirement from basketball due to a hip injury . Splitter won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 . </Li> </Ul>

When does the nba season start and end
find me the text answering this question