NBA free agency starts on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET , and teams can officially sign free agents beginning July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET. The early wave is often about reported agreements first, then contracts later.

Quick details

  • Negotiations open: June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
  • Official signing window: July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.
  • Why it feels confusing: deals can be reported before they’re formally signed.

What this means

In practice, the first night is usually when most of the action starts, but not every deal becomes official right away. So when you see “agreement” news on June 30 or July 1, that usually means the teams have lined up terms, not that the contract is already signed.

Fast answer for a post

NBA free agency starts June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Teams can begin signing players on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.