The 2017–18 Southeastern Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play started in early January 2018 and ended in March, after which 14 member teams participated in the 2018 SEC tournament at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The tournament champion was guaranteed a selection to the 2018 NCAA tournament.

Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers that same night.