The NBA schedule for 2024-25 has been unveiled! The regular season begins Oct. 22 with the defending champions Boston Celtics hosting the New York Knicks, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves visiting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
All other teams begin their campaigns Oct. 23. As the regular season nears, which debuts, star showdowns, reunions and playoff rematches are we most excited to watch?
Plenty of stars will don new jerseys next season — most notably Klay Thompson with the Dallas Mavericks, Paul George with the Philadelphia 76ers, Mikal Bridges with the New York Knicks and DeMar DeRozan with the Sacramento Kings — setting up some must-see reunions.
Top rookies will face off, led by No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher vs. No. 2 pick Alex Sarr in October and Donovan Clingan vs. Zach Edey in a rematch of the 2024 NCAA title game in November.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama will look to take the next step in his ascension to NBA superstardom. Meawhile, James will embark on his record-tying 22nd season in the league after winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris this summer.
Those are just some of the storylines we can’t wait to watch play out in 2024-25. ESPN’s NBA insiders break down the most anticipated games of the upcoming season, including when to watch Wemby, every big revenge game, the five-game Christmas Day slate and key matchups inside both Los Angeles arenas.
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NBA schedule FAQs | Star-studded openers
Must-see reunions | Playoff rematches
Christmas showdowns | LeBron’s biggest games
Big-time matchups | Schedule for all 30 teams
begin training camp on Sept. 24 ahead of two preseason games in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 4 and 6. The rest of the teams start training camp Oct. 1 with preseason games running from Oct. 4 to Oct. 18.
When is NBA opening night?
The NBA regular season begins Oct. 22 with the Celtics hosting the New York Knicks, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Nov. 1, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Of all the surprises that took place during the playoffs, arguably none were bigger than Minnesota’s stunning Game 7 comeback on the road — from 20 points down — to take down the then-defending-champion Nuggets. You can imagine that Denver is looking forward to its opportunity for revenge. But on a more basic level, watching San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
Dec. 25, noon ET | ESPN
With all due respect to captain Golden State Warriors
Dec. 25, 8 p.m. ET | ABC
Only Santa Claus has made more Christmas appearances than LeBron James. He holds the NBA records for Christmas points (476) and appearances (18). Christmas games often haven’t been merry for Phoenix Suns
Dec. 25, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
The Suns might need owner Mat Ishbia to take a charge again to slow down Jokic. Jokic had 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in an overtime Christmas win over the Suns a couple of years ago. Booker, who left that game early with injury, is the lone Suns starter remaining from that squad. That roster transformation started with the trade for Durant, who ranks behind only James, Kobe Bryant and Oscar Robertson with 315 career points in Christmas games. — MacMahon
steps on the court in a game with LeBron James, the Lakers duo will make history as the first father and son to play together in the eight decades the league has existed. The moment promises to be awe-inspiring, but fleeting. Afterward, the real work will begin for the No. 55 pick in continuing to improve. — Dave McMenamin
LeBron’s first game at 40 years old
LA Clippers
Jan. 19, 9 p.m. ET
Rich Paul told ESPN years ago that James would never don a Clippers uniform in his career as the woebegone franchise didn’t match his client’s pedigree, but that was before the Clips built what figures to be the most spectacular basketball arena in the world. James might technically be a visitor coming into Intuit as a Laker, but there is no doubt the city of L.A. will be cheering for him to put on a show to christen the new court in its inaugural year. — McMenamin
Nuggets revenge game
San Antonio Spurs at
Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
In Wembanyama’s farewell Instagram post to the 2022-23 season, he had pictures of him battling Jokic, blocking , jersey-swapping with fellow French rookie and … blocking . Despite what these two have said publicly, this is going to be a matchup to watch for years to come (maybe even in 2028 at the Olympics). — Lopez
| | NYK | PHI | TOR
Central: CHI | CLE | DET | IND | MIL
Southeast: ATL | CHA | MIA | ORL | WAS
Pacific: GS | LAC | LAL | PHX | SAC
Southwest: DAL | HOU | MEM | NO | SA
Northwest: DEN | MIN | OKC | POR | UTAH
