LeBron James is expected to make his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, October 20, at Madison Square Garden, where the Sixers will face the defending champion New York Knicks on the opening night of the 2026 NBA season.
"This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win, and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship," James said in a thread on X on July 24.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time."
The 2026 NBA season tips off with a tripleheader on NBC and Peacock, featuring a star-studded lineup. First at 3:00 PM ET, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics face Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then at 7:00 PM, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks receive their championship rings before hosting James, Jaylen Brown, and the 76ers at the Garden. At 9:30 PM, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder go head-to-head with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA season on NBC and Peacock.
With the rollout of the 2026-27 NBA schedule, the league will again take its game overseas with a two games in Europe and one in Mexico, all of which were previously announced in May.
The first game is set Jan. 14, 2027 at Accor Arena in Paris, in what should be a boisterous homecoming for Wembanyama. The rematch will take place at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on Jan. 17. The last time the NBA played a regular-season game in Paris was in January 2025 when the Spurs and the Indiana Pacers split their two-game series.
The NBA is also returning to Mexico for a regular-season contest that will pit three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets against two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers on Nov. 7 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. It will be the 16th regular-season contest played in the country.
The league will return to Paris and Berlin for regular-season games in the 2027-28 season.
We’re deep in the offseason. A summer of hype around new recruits and NBA Draft anticipation has now become quiet. To pass time, let’s take a look at the Illini’s returning core and their closest NBA comparisons.
David Mirkovic: Julius Randle
Mirkovic and Randle are almost identical when it comes to their body frames, with Mirk sitting at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds and Randle at 6-foot-8 and 250. The similarities are also seen in what they do with their bodies: they both love to play bully-ball. With both of them lacking elite verticals above the rim, they instead utilize their frames to fight through contact, dominate the glass and get buckets at the rim.
Julius Randle combines the bully-ball aspect of his game with his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter, making 33% of his 3-point shots throughout his career. David Mirkovic does the same, stretching defenses out to the arc to contest his triples when it isn’t working for him in the paint. Mirk shot 37.5% from long-range last season, attempting around four per game. Randle also attempted around four per game last season. Obviously, neither is a spot-up shooter, but they both pose a scoring threat from the paint and the perimeter.
Both of them are primarily power forwards, but they both can act as point forwards. Randle occasionally initiates the offense from the perimeter and is able to grab a defensive rebound and push coast-to-coast. Mirkovic’s background as a point guard gives him similar traits, and they both possess high IQ and passing vision as power forwards.
Additionally, they both use their physicality to excel at grabbing rebounds. Julius Randle career rebounds per game sit at 8.9, and Mirkovic snagged 8 per game in his freshman season.
Zvonimir Ivisic: Mo Bamba
Frame-wise, Z and Mo are both freakishly lengthy. Zvonimir sits at 7-foot-2 and around 245-250 pounds, and Bamba at 7-foot and 230. But that’s not where the swatting abilities come from. Zvonimir Ivisic’s wingspan is speculated to be around 7-foot-5 or greater, and Mo Bamba’s 7-foot-10 wingspan is one of the largest ever recorded at the NBA Draft combine.
As basketball players, they both primarily thrive at one thing: protecting the rim. They excel with their timing, reflexes and length to reject shots around the cylinder. Bamba has swatted roughly 6.5% of two-point attempts while on the floor throughout his NBA career, and Z’s 12.6% block rate ranked No. 4 nationally last season.
Beyond rim protection, they both carry themselves as stretch 5s on offense, spacing the floor by offering a 3-point threat from the wing and forcing bigs to leave the paint. Bamba’s career 3-point percentage sits at 35%, while Zvonimir has made 33.6% of his triples so far throughout his NCAA career.
Neither of them are seen posting-up in the paint often, but they still score in the interior by catching lobs, running the floor in transition and crashing the boards for putback dunks.
Tomislav Ivisic: Nikola Vucevic
Tomislav Ivisic and Nikola Vucevic’s styles of play are practically the same. The one thing setting them apart is the height difference: Tomislav’s 7-foot-1 frame towers over Vuc’s 6-foot-9 frame.
Still, they score in the same ways. They both love a good pick-and-pop at the top of the key to offer a shot option and make space for guards in the lane. And when they’re given the ball there, they’ll knock down most of their triples from the top of the key. Vucevic has made 35% of his career triple attempts, and Tomislav 32% in his Illini career. Last season, Tomislav attempted 4.7 3-pointers per game while Vucevic attempted 4.2 per game.
If the long-range shots aren’t going down, the pick-and-pop can turn into a pick-and-roll, but with a short roll. They both like to open themselves up to the free throw line for a floater instead of fighting through contact in the paint.
Even though they don’t usually invite contact, they both possess shifty skills in the post for interior scoring and rely on their footwork, fakes, hook shots and creativity.
Beyond scoring, these two centers love to playmake from the elbow and utilize their vision to find cutters.
Andrej Stojakovic: DeMar DeRozan
DeMar and Andrej are both 6-foot-6, though DeMar’s 220 pounds is a little heavier than Stojakovic’s 205.
One thing they’re both unusually skilled at is relieving pressure late in the shot clock. They like to demand the ball at the perimeter, then use their isolation skills and explosive athleticism to bail their team out for a layup or midrange.
That same explosive athleticism helps them soar in the air vertically. DeMar recorded a 38.5-inch vertical at the 2009 NBA Draft combine, while Andrej recorded a 41.5-inch vertical in this year’s combine. That bounce gives both of them the ability to finish violently and posterize players in the paint, as Stojakovic did multiple times last season and DeMar did frequently in his Raptor years.
Their body control allows them to finish off a lot of tough buckets in the mid-paint. Both take, and make, tough layups, floaters and short pull-ups while adjusting their bodies midair.
Most of their scoring comes from these types of buckets, along with midrange shots closer to the arc and free throws from fouls drawn. Stojakovic was more comfortable knocking down the triple in his first two collegiate years than his first season as an Illini. At Stanford and Cal, he averaged 3.8 3-point attempts per game and made 32.2% of them. Last season, he only took 2.4 3-pointers per game and made just 24.4% of them.
DeRozan on the other hand, attempted just 1.7 3-pointers per game and shot 28.8% from behind the arc during his nine seasons as a Toronto Raptor. As a Chicago Bull and Sacramento King, DeRozan attempted 2.4 3-pointers per game and made 33% of them.
They both have the capability to knock down the triple, but cannot always find the rhythm.
Jake Davis: Shane Battier
Battier has two inches and 10 pounds on Jake Davis, but they play almost identically. Both glue guys use their high basketball IQ and positioning to slide into help defense, take charges and close out on shots on one side of the court, and cut backdoor and make the extra pass on the other.
Beyond their intelligence on the court, their hustle and grit don’t always show up on the box score. They both box out, crash the glass and fight for loose balls relentlessly through toughness.
Lastly, but certainly not least, they’re both primarily known for one thing: knocking down the catch-and-shoot corner triple and being absolutely elite at it. Davis shot 40.6% from behind the arc last season, knocking down 54 out of his 133 attempts. In the 2012-13 season with the Miami Heat, Shane Battier shot 43% from 3-point range, nailing 103 of his 276 attempts.
TCR readers, do you agree or disagree with these comparisons? Offer your own in the comments below!
Nine of basketball's legends will have their legacies etched in history as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame welcomes its newest class of inductees in 2026 this weekend. This year's class represents a diverse lineup of players, coaches and contributors who have left a lasting mark on the game.
See below for everything you need to know about how to watch the enshrinement ceremony, including notes on those being inducted and the weekend's festivities.
How to watch 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremony
When: Saturday, August 15
Where: Symphony Hall, Springfield, MA
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV Channel: NBA TV
Streaming: NBA App
2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Schedule
Enshrinement Weekend officially begins Friday, August 14 at 11:00 AM ET with a Class of 2026 Autograph Session presented by Panini at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Class of 2026 and many of the sport's icons will take to the red carpet outside Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET leading into the ceremony.
Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony history
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in 1959, serving as an epicenter honoring the game's legends, milestones, and worldwide impact. The original Basketball Hall of Fame opened on the campus of Springfield College in 1968, with a second, larger hall opening in 1985. This year also marked the first time women were inducted. Now, home to nearly 300 inductees and 40,000 square feet of exhibits, the Hall of Fame continues to operate as the ultimate destination for basketball history.
Who is part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026?
The nine inductees include Joey Crawford, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire, the 1996 USA Basketball Women's National Team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker, and Mike D'Antoni.
Amar’e Stoudemire is the sole NBA player to be inducted into this year’s class. A six-time All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year, Stoudemire played a pivotal role in Phoenix’s “Seven Seconds or Less” era, spending eight seasons with the Suns before signing with the New York Knicks. He finished his 14-year NBA career averaging 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Doc Rivers stands as one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, amassing more than 1,180 wins in 27 seasons with five organizations. He led the Boston Celtics to a pair of NBA Finals appearances, including a championship in 2008. He sits sixth on the NBA's all-time coaching wins list and fourth all-time in playoff victories. On the court, Rivers played 13 years in the NBA, earning an All-Star nod in 1987.
There aren't many more accomplished players in WNBA history than Candace Parker. A three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP, she is the only player in history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She was the youngest member of the 2008 USA Basketball Women's National Team, earning two gold medals in Beijing and London.
Click here for additional information on each inductee.
Why is the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts?
Springfield, Massachusetts became the birthplace of basketball when James Naismith invented the sport in 1891, writing and developing the game's original 13 rules.
When does the 2026 NBA season begin?
The 2026-27 NBA season officially tips off Tuesday, October 20, on NBC and Peacock, headlined by the New York Knicks raising their championship banner against LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers.
The NBA schedule is rolling out this week — the start of the season is just 70 days away — and while the full schedule doesn't drop until Thursday, some of the marquee days and biggest games have already been announced. Here is what we know.
Opening night
The NBA season tips off on NBC on Oct. 20 with a triple-header:
• Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET) • Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET) • Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET)
Victor Wembanyama called for the alley-oop, but ended up being IMPRESSED with Stephon Castle’s poster.
Opening night October 20th on NBC and Peacock: Celtics vs Pistons 3PM ET Sixers vs Knicks 6:30PM ET Thunder vs Spurs 9:30PM ET pic.twitter.com/WCzZBxF7z5
This will be the first time that a network has ever broadcast three NBA Tip-Off games, and all of them are intense matchups and all of them can be seen on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The day starts with Jayson Tatum vs. Cade Cunningham in a showdown of the top two seeds in the East from last season. It's also a clash of styles between the 3-point-launching Celtics and the dominant-in-the-paint Pistons.
Then comes ring night in Madison Square Garden, the first time in 53 years a championship banner will be raised to the rafters in New York. Adam Silver will be on hand to give Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the Knicks their rings — then LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the new-look 76ers will try to spoil the party. This is the marquee matchup of the night.
Although the finale might match it — Game 8 of last year's Western Conference Finals, the Thunder vs. the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Two juggernauts meeting on opening night.
Christmas Day
The NBA returns with its traditional five-game Christmas Day lineup, and it's a banger. All the games will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN.
• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (12 p.m.m. ET). An NBA Finals rematch with Victor Wembanyama making his one appearance this season in Madison Square Garden.
• Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (2:30 p.m. ET). Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new-look Miami Heat spend the holiday in Boston taking on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.
• Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET). LeBron James makes his return to Los Angeles with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid and his new teammates along for the ride, taking on Luka Doncic and a reworked Lakers roster. This is the showcase game of the day, with LeBron — who brought a title to Los Angeles — getting welcomed back by the fans.
• Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET). A star-studded event with two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and the Thunder heading north for a white Christmas in Minnesota to take on Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and the Timberwolves.
• Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET). The Christmas Day nightcap features Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets heading to the Bay Area to face Stephen Curry and the Warriors in another star-studded game. This is also two former champions in the West looking to show they belong back in the top tier of the West.
Opening Week Games
We also know a few more opening week games.
October 21
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). ESPN's NBA coverage starts with a showdown between two teams that radically changed who they are this offseason: The Timberwolves, now with LaMelo Ball and a wildly entertaining offense, against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat.
• Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). A classic star-studded West Coast showdown to open the season for both teams, with Stephen Curry and the Warriors heading down the coast to take on Luka Doncic and the Lakers.
October 22
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland will look to prove this season that last season's trip to the Eastern Conference Finals was not a one-off fluke, taking on a 76ers team that added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and is looking to supplant Cleveland in that spot.
• Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). If Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets want to prove they belong back on top in the West and are a threat, the Thunder are the bar. Any game with Jokic and Chet Holmgren is going to be fun.
• New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Prime is going to broadcast double-headers on Friday night throughout the NBA season, which starts with an impressive first night, tipped off by two of the last three NBA champions facing off in Boston. Jalen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum is always a show, and these should be two of the top regular season teams in the East.
• Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m., Prime Video). Kevin Durant and the Rockets want to prove last season (fifth in the West, unceremonious first-round playoff exit) was a one-off and they are much better than that. The return of point guard Fred VanVleet to orchestrate the offense will help a lot with that. However, their first test is against the defending Western Conference Champions and in-state rivals, the Spurs, with Victor Wembanyama. That's a good early measuring stick for Houston.
Season's greetings from the NBA, who gifted us all with future cheer as LeBron James will make his return to the West Coast for a game against Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers before departing during the offseason as a free agent.
After 24 days, he committed to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, July 24, over teams such as the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option for the 2027-28 season.
James and the Sixers head west amid a packed NBA Christmas Day schedule. It will be LeBron's 21st Christmas game and comes as the perfect headline for the holiday.
It will be nestled just after the Heat take on the Celtics and will be followed by the Thunder taking on the Timberwolves. Here is the day's slate of games. All times Eastern.
James produced a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes of play during his last appearance for the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on May 11 in a 115-110 Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Luka Doncic did not play in the game due to injury.
After the Western Conference semifinal series, James stated that he needed to think about his future and was unsure of his plan.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” James shared on his social media accounts on July 24. “I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game.
“I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ahead of the full 2026-27 NBA schedule release Thursday, we now know a few of the marquee games for the Sixers this season.
LeBron James returns to Los Angeles on Christmas Day for Sixers-Lakers. Home opener against the Cavs. pic.twitter.com/EnV6cMui1r
The Sixers begin the season at MSG against the defending champion New York Knicks. They’ll also take on two of LeBron James’ former teams — the home opener is against the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Sixers will be in Los Angeles for Christmas in a primetime matchup with the Lakers.
It’s a little surprising we didn’t see a matchup with the Boston Celtics, especially when Jaylen Brown returns to TD Garden for the first time as a Sixer. That almost felt like a lock for Christmas Day. Alas, we’ll have to wait to find out when Brown gets his first crack at a revenge game.
Any thoughts on these games or any other Sixers questions? Drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer as many as possible!
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers will be featured front and center on the Christmas Day schedule against a new opponent, but a familiar face.
LeBron James’ return to Los Angeles will highlight the special day of games as Los Angeles will host the 76ers in the middle of the five-game slate. The league announced the games for Christmas and the opening week on Tuesday morning.
The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25) for the 19th consecutive year, with ABC and ESPN both televising each matchup.
Highlights include the first meeting between the Knicks and Spurs since the 2026 NBA Finals, as well as new 76er LeBron James’ return… pic.twitter.com/CgWdaaFJXN
This will be the 28th consecutive season the purple and gold feature on the Christmas schedule. However, it will be just the second time they have faced the Sixers on Christmas. However, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
There will be few games more notable or marquee for the Lakers this season than LeBron’s return to LA. While there were other games based on competition or rivalries that the league could have slotted the Lakers into, no game will have more narratives or storylines around it.
Aside from the LeBron aspect of this, it’ll also be a meeting between, presumably, two of the best teams in the league. The Lakers will be led by Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves still while the Sixers were arguably the biggest winners of the offseason by stealing Jaylen Brown from the Celtics.
Outside of that contest, an NBA Finals rematch will start the day as the Knicks host the Spurs. The Celtics will host the Heat in the precursor to the Lakers-Sixers. The Thunder will face the Wolves with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards before the nightcap of the Warriors and Nuggets.
Left off Opening Night slate
For the first time since the beginning of the LeBron James era, the Lakers will not play on Opening Night. Between the Knicks getting their rings and a rematch of the Thunder and Spurs, the purple and gold were left off the slate on the league’s first night of games.
Instead, LA will open against the Warriors at home a day later.
The first four days of the 2026-27 NBA regular season will feature nine national games across NBC/Peacock, ESPN and Prime Video.
In recent years, the league pulled the Lakers-Warriors card whenever they needed a ratings bump. But the LeBron-Steph Curry rivalry isn’t there anymore, so we’ll see how much weight a Luka-led showdown carries.
Fans won’t have to wait long, though, to see the new-look Lakers in official action in what will be the exciting first step into a new era of LA basketball.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 08: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA schedule is slowly leaking out before it is fully released on Thursday. So far, we know about the opening night triple-header, which includes the New York Knicks getting their championship rings in front of LeBron James in his Philadelphia 76ers debut, and also another San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder showdown. For as good as opening night is, the Christmas schedule is even better.
So many of the league’s biggest stars will be on display on Christmas day, from Victor Wembanyama to LeBron James to Giannis Antetokounmpo to Luka Doncic to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Anthony Edwards to Nikola Jokic to Stephen Curry. There’s five games on the Christmas slate, and not even the biggest NBA diehard can watch them all. We’re here to help.
Let’s rank every game on Christmas day from least-watchable to most-watchable. It’s never too early to start planning your holiday so you can fit in some basketball.
5. Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m. ET
Curry and Jokic are always brilliant. So why is this game last? The late night start time is the first factor, because after a long day with family it might be hard to make it through this game for those on Eastern or Central time. There’s also the pesky fact that both of these franchises feel like they’re going in the wrong direction. I see the Warriors as a lottery team in our early power rankings, and they’re already talking about this season like a gap year. The Nuggets just got bounced in the first-round of the playoffs, and haven’t done anything to improve the team over the summer. I might look like a fool for this ranking when Curry and Jokic pop off, but for now I’m putting this as the skippable Christmas game.
4. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics at 2:30 p.m. ET
The Boston Celtics almost traded for Giannis this summer. The Miami Heat actually did. This is another chapter in the defining rivalry of the Eastern Conference in the 2020s with both franchises still in the early stages of retooling after some big offseason moves. The best thing about Heat-Celtics is that each team has an entrenched identity. Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are the ultimate math-ball team, and will be bombing away from three. Erik Spoelstra’s Miami squad is defined by Heat Culture, with toughness and defense taking centerstage. This should be a good contrast of styles in the early afternoon session.
3. Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers at 5 p.m.
LeBron goes back to LA for Christmas to see family and play his former team, the Lakers. This game should feature tons of offense, with James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and maybe Joel Embiid running up the score as Luka and Austin Reaves try to keep pace. New Lakers center Walker Kessler is going to be fighting for his life to try to keep Philly away from the rim, but that’s where Maxey’s movement shooting can get you. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Luka pick apart what should be a spotty Philly defense, especially if Embiid is out. This one should have plenty of fireworks.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves at 8 p.m.
The Wolves traded for LaMelo Ball over the offseason, in the process making a bold bet that the best way to try to take down the Thunder and Spurs is with high-volume pull-up three-point shooting. Ball and Anthony Edwards are among the best off-the-dribble shooters from deep in the league, and it will be fascinating to see them try to solve the might OKC defense with tough shot-making. I’m also interested in seeing how Chet Holmgren responds in a spotlight game. He has been excellent when he’s not playing Victor Wembanyama, but it feels like he needs to re-establish himself as an elite player this season after such a terrible performance in the Western Conference Finals. This is also a big opportunity for the Thunder youngsters like Bennett Stirtz, Nikola Topic, and Aday Mara in a national TV game against an elite opponent. I predict we see this series in the playoffs, and not in the first round.
1. San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks at noon
The Knicks always seem to have the noon game on Christmas, and this year it’s an NBA Finals rematch. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs head back to Madison Square Garden to try to avenge their frustrating Finals loss from last season, and both rosters mostly remain intact. All eyes will be on Wemby as he tries to take over in the Garden, but it sure feels like the Knicks unlocked something special last season that could sustain into this year. The Finals might have ended in five games, but that was some of the best basketball we’ve witnessed since LeBron led the 3-1 comeback over the Warriors in 2016. I can’t wait to see the next chapter.
DALLAS, TX - MAY 26: Anthony Edwards #5, Kyle Anderson, and Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk to the media after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Timberwolves fans and fans across the country.
As the Minnesota Timberwolves are across the Atlantic enjoying team bonding time in France, it feels good to see that somebod(ies) is taking a leadership role this offseason.
However, once the season begins, will there still be the calming voice to help guide the ship? Who’s going to break the huddles in Mike Conley’s absence? Who’s going to make wisecracks from down the tunnel without Joe Ingles? Who will test Rudy Gobert’s boxing skills in a timeout now that Kyle Anderson is gone? All important questions.
With a couple empty roster spots available, would it be wise to use those on more depth pieces, or find a wily Master Splinter to sit on the bench all year?
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 18: Cade Cunningham #2 and Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 18, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA scheduling details are starting to trickle out, and it looks like the Detroit Pistons will be kicking off the season in a big way — by playing in the first game of the season league-wide as part of an opening night triple-header.
Detroit is set to face off against the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference showdown at 3 p.m. on Oct. 20 in a nationally televised game on NBC. Set your work schedules accordingly.
That will be followed up by two primetime games — the Philadelphia 76ers vs. the New York Knicks, aka LeBron, Jaylen Brown, and the new-look Sixers against the reigning NBA champions. Finally, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will face off to try and set the standard of who will rule the Western Conference.
The Pistons starting the season is quite the glow-up after having the NBA’s worst record just one year ago. Detroit is coming off of a 60-win season and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham will get an opportunity to show a huge NBA audience thirsty for real basketball that he’s one of the 5-10 best players in the league, and that his team has no intention of taking a step back.
That might be news to many NBA watchers, as Detroit’s offseason has not been looked upon fondly while other teams in the East like the Sixers, Heat, Raptors, Hawks, and Celtics are making major moves, and the Knicks, Cavs, Magic, and Hornets are looking to build on last season’s varying levels of success.
But what will hopefully be readily apparent to everyone involved is that surrounding a great player with shooting makes him even better. As good as the Pistons were last season, they didn’t quite have that. They had Duncan Robinson, one of the league’s best marksmen, and he returns. But they’ve doubled down on that with the addition of Isaiah Joe, who isn’t far behind Robinson in skill level. They’ve also added John Collins, who can attack the rim and nail shots from the perimeter at a high level.
It will also be a chance for Ausar Thompson to take his next step toward being a star player, which is the trajectory I think he is destined for. Already probably the league’s best perimeter defender, he isn’t near his ceiling, and he continues to put in the work to try and to turn his offensive repertoire into something that consistently helps his team.
Will Jalen Duren be back? Likely. Catching lobs, slamming putbacks, and having a sneaky level of finesse and footwork to dominate down low. It’s the ingredients for a fun basketball team. The ingredients for a winning basketball team. And I’m glad the NBA will get to see it right off the bat.
The Lakers will see a familiar face for its annual Christmas Day game this season.
LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, will be making his return to Los Angeles on Dec. 25 when the Lakers host Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena, the NBA revealed Tuesday morning in what it called a “sneak peek” of the 2026-27 schedule. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. on ESPN and ABC.
The full schedule will be revealed Thursday.
The league also unveiled its opening week slate, with the Lakers set to open the season by hosting the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 in a game scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
James, entering an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA, will also figure prominently in the opening week broadcast schedule as the 76ers will take on the New York Knicks on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden on NBC and Peacock. The game will be James’ first with his new team and will feature the Knicks raising a banner to mark their first NBA championship since 1973.
Two days later, the 76ers will play their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted James in 2003, in game that will be broadcast on ESPN.
James’ new team was always going to have a prominent place on the schedule, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver even said last month that he wanted league’s career scoring leader to announce his decision because teams and networks were calling to ask when the schedule would be completed.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs look on during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA has begun releasing the 2026-2027 schedule, beginning with the opening week and Christmas match-ups today. They’re wasting no time in getting the Spurs back against their opponents of the final two rounds of the playoffs, beginning with a Western Conference Finals rematch against Oklahoma City Thunder at home on opening night. Tip-off will be at 8:30 CT on NBC and Peacock.
It will follow the Knicks raising the banner and hosting the new-look 76ers (rumor has it the NBA was pushing LeBron James to make his Decision 4.0 so they could get on with this, so he purposefully delayed his announcement to join the 76ers by a week to spite them), although for some reason the true season opener is between Celtics and Pistons four hours earlier at 2:00 PM CT. (Won’t everyone be at work?)
A CAN'T-MISS TRIPLEHEADER TO OPEN THE SEASON.
🍿 Jayson Tatum, Paul George and the Celtics visit Cade Cunningham and last year's top-seeded Pistons
🍿 LeBron James and Jaylen Brown make Sixers debuts vs. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks on their championship banner raising night at… pic.twitter.com/jazcOOP8PB
If you’re like me and are still recovering from all the 8:30 (closer to 9) tipoff times from the playoffs, too bad! Because the Spurs will get another one three days later, as they will host the Houston Rockets in that timeslot on October 23, which will be streamed on Prime. (At least it’s on a Friday!) This will also be one of their four home games in the Moody Center in Austin and will be a homecoming of sorts for Kevin Durant, who went to the University of Texas for his lone college season. (To be honest, I’m not a fan of taking a rivalry game out of San Antonio, but maybe that’s just me.)
While we can finally say “at least the Spurs aren’t opening against the Mavs for the fourth year in a row,” one game that does feel a bit repetitive is Christmas in Madison Square Garden. And not just because the Spurs got more than enough of the Knicks in the Finals (which will add another level to this game), but it’s also a repeat of two years ago, when Victor Wembanyama made his Christmas debut in MSG. Despite him putting on a show with 42 points and 18 rebounds, the Spurs came up just short after blowing a late lead. (Sound familiar?) Tip-off will be at 11 AM CT on ABC and ESPN.
Which NBA Christmas matchup are you most hyped for?🎄
🎁 Spurs-Knicks at 12 PM ET 🎁 Heat-Celtics at 2:30 PM ET 🎁 76ers-Lakers at 5 PM ET 🎁 Thunder-Timberwolves at 8 PM ET 🎁 Nuggets-Warriors at 10:30 PM ET pic.twitter.com/9uwr849kYf
It will be followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat at Celtics, LeBron’s return to LA with the 76ers at Lakers, Thunder at Timberwolves, who surprisingly traded for LaMelo Ball, and what very well may be the bummer match-up of the day between two aging teams who did nothing to get better over the offseason with the Nuggets visiting the Warriors.
The NBA Cup groups and tournament schedules will be released tomorrow, and the complete regular season schedule for all 30 teams will be released on Thursday at 2:00 CT time. (If you feel the need to watch it, it will be on ESPN 2.) What do you think about these big-day match-ups, Pounders?
In what will come as a surprise to no one, the Knicks will host LeBron James and the new-look 76ers to open the 2026-27 NBA season on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
Before the game against Philadelphia, the Knicks will raise their 2025-26 NBA championship banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.
Beyond signing James this offseason, the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown. Their starting lineup now features James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe.
It was also revealed on Tuesday that the Knicks will host the Spurs on Christmas Day in an NBA Finals rematch, in a game that will tip off at 12 p.m.
As the Knicks look to repeat as champions, they will return the same starting lineup that toppled San Antonio in the Finals -- Jalen Brunson,Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.
The ultimate present for NBA fans will feature a host of the league's marquee teams. The matchups, announced on Tuesday, Aug. 11, are highlighted by LeBron James making his return to Los Angeles to face his former team, the Lakers.
🎁 Wemby, Spurs visit Brunson and the defending champion Knicks in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals 🎁 Tatum, Celtics host Giannis and the Heat in Beantown 🎁 LeBron returns to LA to face Luka and the Lakers 🎁 Shai and Ant go… pic.twitter.com/njuWV146ym
Kurt Helin
