Kevin Durant is entering the final season of his current contract, paying him $54.7 million, and part of what he was looking for in a landing spot was a team willing to pay him a healthy extension off that contract. The Houston Rockets are willing to do that.
However, there is no urgency on either side to get this extension done, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said earlier this week on NBA Today.
"There's not a sense of urgency to get it done right now. The Rockets have other business that they need to handle this summer. … I think you're going to see both sides take a patient approach. They will work together. I don't think this is an urgent situation, and even if they get to camp, even if they get to the start of the season. If it's not done, I don't think you're going to see panic from either side. They want to work together, they want to position themselves to win a championship."
The deal is going to get done, the only question is money. MacMahon echoed what we have written about previously: This is not going to be a contract for the two-year, $122 million max, and the question is what number will it be? $100 million? Less? (No team can offer Durant more than two years on a contract due to the over-38 rule.)
Whatever that number ends up being, we're a long way from any serious drama about an extension being reached. Both sides want to get a deal done, and technically they have until June 30, 2026, to work it out. Until we get to around the All-Star break, there's not much to stress over.
Could Jayson Tatum actually play meaningful games for the Boston Celtics in 2025-26?
That question has picked up steam recently as the superstar forward continues to attack his rehab from a ruptured Achilles in mid-May. And there’s plenty working in Tatum’s favor: He underwent surgery immediately after his injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he’s just 27 years old, and he’s an incredibly hard worker, all of which could accelerate his recovery process.
But even if Tatum’s Achilles fully heals in, say, nine or 10 months, should the Celtics put him back on the court in February or March, especially if they’re fighting for a spot in the playoffs? While that sounds tempting in theory — a fully-healthy Tatum would make the C’s a serious postseason threat — former Celtic and NBC Sports Boston color analyst Brian Scalabrine would like to offer a word of caution.
“There’s a reason (the NBA season) is 82 games,” Scalabrine told co-host Drew Carter on a new Celtics Talk Podcast. “Just watch a playoff game and watch a preseason game: There’s so many levels in between. Getting thrown back into the middle of a race where you’re trying to get out of the play-in (tournament) and you’re playing these meaningful, high-level games, that is not ideal — not (just) for your Achilles, but for your body. There needs to be some build-up.”
Scalabrine clarified that he’s not putting any limitations on Tatum, adding that the superstar forward is a “top-five well-trained athlete in basketball” who takes incredible care of his body and will do everything he can to return to action as soon as possible.
But practically speaking, Scalabrine believes a late-season return would be difficult for the Celtics to manage, especially for a player of Tatum’s stature who would be expected to be his superstar self whenever he’s on the court.
“It’s easy to do it if you’re me: I sub in, it’s the second quarter, I sub out like five minutes later, and those are my minutes,” Scalabrine said. “So, is Jayson Tatum gonna start? Is he gonna end the game? There’s moments where the game is less talented. Is he gonna play in those moments?
“… How do you build up? How do you get your legs without doing it at the highest level? Is he gonna play 10 minutes a game for a month? So, that’s what I’m asking. Star players, they get thrown in there, they’re required to do everything. I don’t know if that demand on your body is too much.”
The Celtics have avoided placing any timelines on Tatum, which also means they haven’t ruled him out for the 2025-26 season. And if Tatum feels he’s healthy enough to play in February, March or even April, you know he’ll be pushing hard to make a comeback.
As Scalabrine warns, however, such a comeback might be easier said than done.
“I don’t know anything, I’m not a doctor or anything like that. I just know this: NBA basketball in October does not look like NBA basketball in April,” Scalabrine added.
“… October and April are not the same. We think (they are) because we’re there every single day and we see this natural build-up. But if you watch in October and then all of a sudden you watch playoff game, you’re gonna be like ‘Whoa, this is way different.'”
Also in this episode:
Celtics start the season with divisional matchups against the Sixers and Knicks.
When do former Celtics players make their returns to TD Garden?
Cooper Flagg’s debut in Boston could be the toughest ticket of the season.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry widely is regarded as one of the greatest NBA point guards of all time, and it appears his talents already are being passed down to his 7-year-old son, Canon.
The younger Curry was spotted at his dad’s annual basketball camp showing off his handles.
Canon first faked his defender to get them on the floor before showcasing multiple spin moves and then topping it off with two layups.
And just like his dad, he did it with unmatched swagger, of course.
The Curry Camp now has been around for a decade, as it continues to provide mentoring for youth athletes to empower them on their journey and what it means to be part of a team, per the Under Armour Next website.
Curry has had several now-NBA and WNBA players pass through his camp, including Trae Young, Anthony Edwards, Amen and Ausar Thompson, Jalen Green, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Cameron Brink.
It might not be long until Canon is the next Curry Camp attendee that makes it pro.
Boston had a bit of a two-way logjam after an Aug. 5 trade that sent Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz and brought back two-way guard RJ Luis Jr. Teams can carry up to three two-way players on their roster, and the Celtics had all three slots filled with Luis, 2025 second-round pick Max Shulga and Miles Norris, which left no room for Williams at the time.
The C’s waived Norris on Sunday, however, which freed up a two-way spot for the team to add Williams.
While Norris had an intriguing skill set as a rangy sharpshooter, Boston’s decision to keep Williams isn’t surprising. The Celtics invested the 46th overall pick in Williams, and the 6-foot-11 big man showcased impressive court vision during NBA Summer League.
Boston also lacks depth in the frontcourt — Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher and Luka Garza project as the team’s top three big men — so if Williams can give the Celtics meaningful minutes at some point this season, that would be a very positive development.
After Williams’ reported signing, the Celtics have all of their two-way slots and 14 of their 15 roster spots filled. The open roster spot gives president of basketball operations Brad Stevens the flexibility to make additional moves before the season begins, with recently-acquired guard Anfernee Simons a potential trade chip as the C’s look to shed more salary.
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Superstar Warriors guard Steph Curry teased a major event to come during his Curry Brand tour in China when talking to reporters Thursday at his Curry Camp in Menlo Park.
In addition to taking his Curry Camp to China for the first time, the four-time NBA champion said fans will be able to participate in an interactive convention dedicated to Curry’s basketball career.
“We’re taking Curry Camp to China; we’re doing something called ‘CurryCon,’ which is kind of wild to think about — an interactive experience based on my journey,” Curry said. “I’m excited about it.”
Curry added he’ll be promoting his new Under Armor shoes at the convention, and that his brother and fellow NBA sharpshooter, Seth Curry, will be abroad with him.
Under Armor shared more details about the convention in its initial press release from July.
“This dynamic 3-day fest in Chongqing, open to all fans across Asia, will serve as a hub for innovation and fan engagement, fostering a vibrant community around the brand,” Under Armor wrote.
“Attendees will have the chance to explore interactive exhibits, discover the latest product innovations, engage in sports sessions with athletes, and delve deep into the brand’s rich history, core values, and forward-thinking vision for the future of sport.”
China holds a special place in Curry’s heart. He has been touring the nation and promoting Curry Brand there since 2014 and has established a connection with his massive Chinese fanbase over his 17-year Warriors career.
“We’ve been going (to China) since 2014 as well,” Curry said. “The reaction, the reception, the fan (and) the energy (are) special. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
No one should be surprised if “CurryCon” is a major hit and turns into an annual exhibition.
Steph Curry’s offseason program has undergone many changes.
On the eve of his 17th season in the NBA, the Warriors superstar explained how his summer regimen has shifted over the years.
“It has evolved drastically [over the past decade] from when I started this camp to now in terms of building out the schedule of on-and-off-court stuff and how to pace yourself through an offseason,” Curry told reporters Thursday after the first day of his annual Curry Camp. “I don’t spend as much time on the court as I did back in the day, but it’s much more intentional and much more purposeful. I’m nerding out on heart rate stuff, foot contacts, checking all of the boxes of movement and skill that’s relevant to my game.
“So, it’s a lot more informed. The work feels harder, which is fun because you kind of have to meet that level and know that as you get older, you’re still trying to play at a high level.”
The 37-year-old’s attention to detail is required at his age to sustain his prolific shooting ability, which relies on precise footwork and rapid-fire movements to get the ball out of his hands and into the hoop.
Even though conventional wisdom says that NBA players slow down in their late 30s, Curry has beaten back Father Time again and again. While he sustained a strained hamstring during the playoffs last season, the two-time NBA MVP still is playing at an elite level after 16 years in the league.
With a new-look Golden State squad that will be more integrated with Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are looking to defy the prognosticators and make another deep playoff run.
Curry has spent his entire career with the Warriors, where he developed into the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen. With another offseason of diligent preparation and painstaking attention to detail, look for Curry to rain down three-pointers from midcourt.
The Warriors are the only team in the NBA who haven’t made an offseason move leading up to the 82-game slate in 2025-26. But Golden State superstar guard Steph Curry isn’t worried.
At his Curry Camp on Thursday, the 11-time NBA All-Star detailed to reporters where his confidence in the Warriors comes from, particularly before training camp starts in late September.
“It’s different, for sure,” Curry prefaced about Golden State’s move-less offseason. “But … my confidence is built on the identity that we were able to create over the last third of the regular season last year (and) the playoff journey. We have a really good team, and we do know we need some pieces to help get us to the next level.
“I think the veteran presence that we have — with me, Jimmy [Butler], Draymond [Green] – like, we understand how to prepare through that uncertainty and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, knowing we should have some movement by then.”
Curry, a four-time NBA champion and 17-year veteran with his Warriors, isn’t writing off the campaign before it even starts. And unlike those fairly critical of Golden State’s current makeup, Curry is choosing to remember just how good the Warriors were after acquiring Butler right before the 2025 NBA trade deadline — they had a 23-7 regular-season record with Butler on the floor.
Curry also lightly mentioned the Warriors’ promising playoff run, which was cut short after he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain that kept him out of the devastating second-round series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Whether it’s the acquisition of veteran center Al Horford, the trading of up-and-coming forward Jonathan Kuminga or something else up Golden State’s sleeve, Curry isn’t losing any sleep over the Warriors’ current roster.
“But, you control what you can control,” Curry said. And no matter how many new experiences you have or whatever the difference is from this offseason to the previous ones, you don’t let it affect your own personal preparation for the season and then the conversations that we’re having on what we need to do to get ready.”
Nostalgia never stops. Vintage is always in for a culture sprinting to be first in line to future endeavors.
Fashion for teenagers is a not-so-subtle reminder of the gray hairs I’ll find on the side of my head, TikTok has turned songs that are 25 years old back into hits and the top movies at the box office domestically this year have been about a computer game made in 2011, another Lilo & Stitch, a new Superman and the seventh movie from the Jurassic Park franchise.
The NBA this season is jumping into the pool of reboots with their return to NBC, queuing up John Tesh’s Roundball Rock to deliver memories of the 1990s. Look at how NBC advertised its opening slate of the Houston Rockets playing the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Warriors facing the Los Angeles Lakers, going full NBA Jam with Tesh’s theme song playing in the background of old video game sounds.
The four players highlighted in order are Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steph Curry and LeBron James. The last that comes to mind among the four is the 27-year-old reigning NBA MVP whose team won the championship last season.
As the Warriors lean on three players in their mid-to-late 30s, the entire NBA will continue to go all-in on O.L.D. until the wheels fall off on three of the game’s greatest to ever play. Who can blame them, too?
When the Rockets, Thunder, Warriors and Lakers take the court for opening night, Oklahoma City’s ring celebration will be in the background of viewers. An afterthought to how Durant will fit on the new-look Rockets and his reaction to his former team hanging a championship banner 10 seasons after he left. Nearly completely forgotten about once all attention turns to Southern California with Steph and LeBron stealing the show once again.
All 30 seconds of NBC’s Warriors hype video on Instagram are highlights of Curry (37 years old), Jimmy Butler (36 years old on opening night) and Draymond Green (35 years old). Brandin Podziemski isn’t exactly those players, and it’s hard when the Warriors are comprised of only nine players at the moment.
From the Warriors’ standpoint, they better hope Curry continues to push the boundaries of age after playing at least 70 games for the second straight season and being named All-NBA for the 11th consecutive year he has played a full season. Green finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, but his body can only handle so much after more than a decade of slaying Goliaths. Butler proved to be a perfect fit almost immediately after joining the Warriors. He also hasn’t played 65 games or more since the 2018-19 season.
“You look at the league right now, I know there’s a lot of youth taking over,” Curry said three months ago after the 2024-25 NBA season. “But we were one of the last eight teams that realistically had a shot, and if you can run that back, make some tweaks that can help our overall roster – obviously you’ve got to get through an 82-game season, like I said – and you want to be in a position where you’re not chasing, but I feel like we had enough that we showed we could be that team. That’s all you really want.”
That’s also all the league really wants. Same goes with the Lakers and Rockets.
There are clear reasons all three teams are playing on opening night and on Christmas. The Warriors’ final NBA Cup game of Group Play will be their first time playing Durant and the Rockets, and the Lakers’ last NBA Cup game of Group Play is them hosting former teammate Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks. Between cable and streaming services, the Warriors this season are playing in a franchise-record 34 nationally televised games.
This isn’t to discredit youth and the inevitable reality that a new batch of stars will soon dictate the state of basketball. Luka Dončić , 26, had the most-popular jersey by NBAStore.com sales last season. Curry finished second, and James was third. Dončić became the first player since the 2012-13 season to lead in jersey sales ahead of Curry or James.
The trio of Curry, Durant and James also bring back a time of American stardom in the NBA. The three went five straight seasons of winning the MVP from 2012 to 2016, followed by two more American-born players in Russell Westbrook and James Harden holding the hardware. Since then, the MVP has gone to a foreign-born player in seven straight seasons as basketball continues to expand globally in its parity era of a new champion the last seven years as well.
Already, the torch has touched the hands of Anthony Edwards for stretches. Let’s be real, stakeholders are begging for Cooper Flagg to run with it. Until the final flicker of light burns out on Steph, LeBron and KD, it’s still their league and the NBA still will operate knowing that to be the truth.
Just like they should, holding onto the last breath of greatness as long as possible.
Amir Coffey deserves an NBA roster spot. He is coming off a career season with the Clippers, averaging 9.7 points a game, shooting 40.9% from 3, playing 24 minutes a night on a 50-win team.
Milwaukee already has the maximum of 15 players under contract for next season (and the veteran Coffey does not qualify for a two-way contract). Technically, the contract of Andre Jackson Jr. is not fully guaranteed. If the Bucks were willing to eat the $800,000 buyout price, they could let Jackson Jr. go and keep Coffey. It was thought that Jackson and Thanasis Antetokounmpo might battle it out in camp for that final roster spot, now Coffey's name is in that mix.
This is a quality pickup for the Bucks — they need depth at the three and Coffey slots right in. It's a little surprising that reuniting with Doc Rivers — his first coach with the Clippers — was the best offer on the table for Coffey, but if the Bucks keep him around, he adds solid regular-season depth to a roster that could use it.
The NBA schedule has dropped, and it has all the drama we were looking forward to: rivalries, revenge games, stars returning to face the teams they left, and plenty of high-level clashes — and a lot of them on NBC and Peacock.
Here are 20 don't-miss games from the upcoming NBA season.
• Oct. 21: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder. Opening night of the season and the return of the NBA to NBC for the first time in 24 years — plus the debut of the NBA on Peacock. And you couldn't come up with a better first game as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder get their championship rings from Adam Silver and raise the first banner won in the city to the rafters. All of that in front of Kevin Durant, arguably the greatest player ever to pull a Thunder jersey over his head, but a guy who was never able to win that ring in OKC. He doesn't seem too stressed about it, though.
Finally. It’s been 10 years, bout time they win one lmaooo
• Oct. 24, Detroit Pistons at Houston Rockets. Twins Ausar Thompson (Detroit) and Amen Thompson (Houston) go head-to-head in a fun early-season contest.
• Oct. 27: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves. The first night of Peacock NBA Monday — where games stream exclusively on Peacock — features a showdown from two of the top teams and players in the West. Get an early look at a much deeper Nuggets squad around Nikola Jokic as they go up against Anthony Edwards and a Timberwolves team that has been to the Western Conference Finals back-to-back years.
• Oct. 31: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers. It's the first game of the NBA Cup, the league's in-season tournament. Tune in to see what the Cup Court looks like in Philly, and if Joel Embiid and Paul George are playing. If they are, Philly can hang with anyone.
• Nov. 1: Dallas Mavericks at Detroit Pistons. The NBA returns to Mexico City and is exporting what should be an entertaining contest featuring Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis. This game will be streamed on Peacock.
• Nov. 3: Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers. Myles Turner makes his return to Indiana after bolting in free agency to get the paycheck he wanted and chase a ring with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Don't expect Pacers fans to be understanding and forgiving.
• Nov. 25: Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers fans will be quick to tell you there is no rivalry with the Clippers, no battle for Los Angeles — then watch their reaction after you tell them the Clippers have been the better team and the better run franchise for the past decade. This is an NBA Cup showdown on NBC and Peacock.
• Dec. 25: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder. During last season's NBA Finals, Oklahoma City players were more than happy to talk about how they felt snubbed not getting a game on Christmas Day and how they used that as motivation. The defending champs get their Christmas Day game this year, and it's a showdown between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the two seven-footers leading the NBA into the future. It's also a showdown of San Antonio's promising backcourt featuring De'Aaron Fox and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper against OKC's MVP SGA.
• Dec. 25: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors. It's a passing of the torch game on Christmas — Stephen Curry and his generation are nearing the end of their run, and he faces No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (as well as former No. 1 pick Anthony Davis). How much do Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have left in the tank? Those Warriors players always seem to save their best for the brightest spotlights, as does Jimmy Butler.
• Jan. 2: Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks. Trae Young loves to play the villain and saves his best games for Madison Square Garden, where he was once Public Enemy No. 1, and he would like to regain that crown.
• Jan. 16: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets. More than just two of the top teams in the West facing off, this will be the first time in the season that Anthony Edwards will have the chance to go head-to-head and take down his idol, Kevin Durant.
• Jan. 19: Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers. The highlight of the quadruple header on NBC and Peacock on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this very well could be a Finals preview (the Thunder and Cavaliers were the No. 1 seeds in each conference last season and are expected to repeat that feat this season). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander facing Donovan Mitchell is always going to be entertaining.
• Jan. 20, the San Antonio Spurs at the Houston Rockets. This is going to be one of the big rivalries in the NBA for a few seasons and we get to see Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and the Rockets' deep roster try to attack a defense led by Victor Wembanyama (the preseason favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year). Also, it's a chance to check in on No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and how he is progressing in San Antonio.
• Jan. 28, Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis, who helped the Celtics win a ring in 2024 but was often injured in his time with the team, returns to Boston with an Atlanta Hawks team that is deep and a threat in the East — if KP can stay healthy and provide the rim protection and floor spacing they need next to Trae Young.
• Jan. 28: Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers. Trade rumors swirled around all summer with questions about LeBron's future in L.A. and how he might put Cleveland over the top one more time for a title. While that trade could not come together (and will not at this year's trade deadline for salary cap reasons), the rumors will continue to fly as LeBron returns to his old stomping grounds. This game is as much about the drama off the court as it is about the game itself.
• Feb. 22: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers will unveil a Pat Riley statue outside Crypto.com Arena before a showdown on NBC's Sunday Night Basketball showcase. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jaylen Brown will look to add to the NBA's greatest historic rivalry.
• Feb. 24: New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the third showdown of the season between the two Eastern Conference favorites heading into the season — this could be a statement game. You can catch it on NBC and Peacock as part of Coast 2 Coast Tuesdays.
• March 9, Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder. A game that is part of the Peacock NBA Monday season (with the games streaming every Monday exclusively on Peacock), we get the last two MVPs — the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic — facing off. This also could well be a Western Conference Finals preview.
• April 5: Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks. Any time Luka Doncic returns to Dallas, it's worth watching — in this case on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock — but this game also comes amid an offseason of rumors about LeBron potentially wanting to play in Dallas with former teammates Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. This game is also a chance to check in on Cooper Flagg and see how the Duke standout has progressed in his rookie season.
• April 5: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors. Just a couple of weeks before the playoffs start, can Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler get revenge for their playoff exit a season ago? This game is part of a doubleheader on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock.
After a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Nets are on the rebuild and hope to turn the franchise's direction around.
Brooklyn finished the regular season 26-56, the sixth-worst record in the league, but wound up with the No. 8 pick after falling in the NBA Draft Lottery. GM Sean Marksselected guard Egor Demin from BYU and then drafted guard Nolan Traoré, wing Drake Powell, guard Ben Saraf, and big man Danny Wolf to round out the first round with a record five picks.
Marks also traded for wing Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for three-point specialist Cam Johnson, and acquired veteran wing Terrance Mann prior to the NBA Draft. They, along with five rookies, will join some returning players like Nic Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe. Plus, Brooklyn hopes to have scoring guard Cam Thomas on the roster as well, but he's yet to sign his qualifying offer or a contract extension with the team. It's possible he could be a sign-and-trade candidate before the season tips off.
The NBA announced the regular season schedule on Thursday, so here are a few notes on what Nets fans can look forward to in 2025-26:
-- Brooklyn opens the regular season in Charlotte against the Hornets on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m.
-- The Nets have just two nationally televised games on the slate: home against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Nov. 3, on Peacock and Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, against the Chicago Bulls on ESPN.
-- They'll face off against the cross-town rival Knicks four times: Nov. 9 at New York, Nov. 25 at home, Jan. 21, 2026, at The Garden, and March 20, 2026, at the Barclays Center.
-- Some notable matchups against star players and top teams around the league include: at San Antonio vs. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Oct. 26, followed by a trip to Houston vs. the Rockets and former Net Kevin Durant on Oct. 27, and home against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 29. The Dallas Mavericks, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, and potentially former Net Kyrie Irving (depending on injury recovery), visit Brooklyn on Feb. 24, 2026.
Here's the entire Nets' 2025-26 regular season schedule:
Kawhi Leonard and James Harden return to lead the Clippers through their 2025-26 schedule. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac and Chris Paul are poised to lead the Clippers through a 2025-26 schedule that opens on the road but closes with four of its final six games at the Intuit Dome.
2025-26 Clippers schedule
OCTOBER
22: at Utah, 6; 24: vs. Phoenix, 7:30; 26: vs. Portland, 6; 28: at Golden State, 8; 31: vs. New Orleans, 7:30.
NOVEMBER
3: vs. Miami, 7:30; 4: vs. Oklahoma City, 8; 6: at Phoenix, 7:30; 8: vs. Phoenix, 7:30; 10: vs. Atlanta, 7:30; 12: vs. Denver, 7:30; 14: at Dallas, 5:30; 16: at Boston, 12:30; 17: at Philadelphia, 4; 20: at Orlando, 4; 22: at Charlotte, 10 a.m.; 23: at Cleveland, 3; 25: at Lakers, 8; 28: vs. Memphis, 7; 29: vs. Dallas, 7.
DECEMBER
1: at Miami, 4:30; 3: at Atlanta, 4:30; 5: at Memphis, 5; 6: at Minnesota, 5; 17: at Oklahoma City, 5; 20: vs. Lakers, 7:30; 23: vs. Houston, 8; 26: at Portland, 7; 28: vs. Detroit, 6; 30: vs. Sacramento, 8.
JANUARY
1: vs. Utah, 7:30; 3: vs. Boston, 7:30; 5: vs. Golden State, 7; 7: at New York, 4:30; 9: at Brooklyn, 4:30; 10: at Detroit, 4:30; 12: vs. Charlotte, 7:30; 14: vs. Washington, 7:30; 16: at Toronto, 4:30; 19: at Washington, noon; 20: at Chicago, 5; 22: vs. Lakers, 7; 25: vs. Brooklyn, 6; 27: at Utah, 7; 30; 30: at Denver, 7.
FEBRUARY
1: at Phoenix, 5; 2: vs. Philadelphia, 7:30; 4: vs. Cleveland, 7:30; 6: at Sacramento, 7; 8: at Minnesota, noon; 10: at Houston, 5; 11: at Houston, 5; 19: vs. Denver, 7:30; 20: at Lakers, 7; 22: vs. Orlando, 6; 26: vs. Minnesota, 7.
MARCH
1: vs. New Orleans, 6; 2: at Golden State, 7; 4: vs. Indiana, 7:30; 6: at San Antonio, 6:30; 7: at Memphis, 5; 9: vs. New York, 7; 11: vs. Minnesota, 7:30; 13: vs. Chicago, 7:30; 14: vs. Sacramento, 7:30; 16: vs. San Antonio, 7:30; 18: at New Orleans, 5; 19: at New Orleans, 5; 21: at Dallas, 5:30; 23: vs. Milwaukee, 7:30; 25: vs. Toronto, 7:30; 27: at Indiana, 4; 29: at Milwaukee, 12:30; 31: vs. Portland, 8.
APRIL
2: vs. San Antonio, 7:30; 5: at Sacramento, 6; 7: vs. Dallas, 7:30; 8: vs. Oklahoma City, 7; 10: at Portland, 7; 12: vs. Golden State, 5:30.
LeBron James, center, and Luka Doncic are set to lead the Lakers through an NBA schedule that includes the season opener and a Christmas game at home. (LM Otero / Associated Press)
As LeBron James enters his record-setting 23rd NBA season and superstar Luka Doncic returns for his first full season in L.A., the Lakers are tied with the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks for the most nationally televised games in the league.
The NBA announced the regular season schedule Thursday, and the Lakers’ slate highlights the league’s growing number of broadcast partners. The Lakers open the season at home against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 on NBC, have ABC/ESPN’s 5 p.m. prime-time slot against the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day and will welcome a familiar face back to Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 28 on Prime.
Anthony Davis’ return to L.A. with the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 will wrap up NBA Cup group play. The former Lakers star forward was injured during what was going to be his return to L.A. last season after he was sent to the Mavericks in a shocking trade.
Now in its third year, the NBA Cup will begin on Oct. 31 with the Lakers playing at Memphis in West Group B that also includes the New Orleans Pelicans, the Clippers and the Mavericks. The Lakers have their second group game at New Orleans on Nov. 14 before playing the Clippers on Nov. 25 in Inglewood, where the game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. PST on NBC, the latest starting time for any in-season tournament game.
The NBA released only 80 of 82 regular-season games for each team as the final two games in December will be announced based on NBA Cup standings. The knockout rounds for the tournament begin Dec. 9.
The Lakers’ annual Grammy trip will have a hometown interlude as the two-week-long road trip includes a game at the Clippers on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. But the meeting in Inglewood doesn’t necessarily ease the travel load as it is the second of the nine-game trip, sandwiched between games at Denver (Jan. 20) and Dallas (Jan. 24).
After returning from the trip, the Lakers have an eight-game home stand, highlighted by a Feb. 22 game against the Boston Celtics, when the franchise will unveil a Pat Riley statue outside Crypto.com Arena, the team announced Thursday. The coach of the Showtime Lakers, who guided the team to four NBA championships, will be the 14th statue in the arena's Star Plaza.
The Lakers begin training camp Sept. 29 before playing six preseason games, beginning in Palm Springs on Oct. 3 against the Suns. The slate also includes a game against the Mavericks in Las Vegas on Oct. 15.
21: Golden State, 7; 24: Minnesota, 7; 26: at Sacramento, 6; 27: Portland, 7:30; 29: at Minnesota, 6:30; 31: at Memphis, 6:30.
NOVEMBER
2: Miami. 6:30; 3: at Portland, 7; 5: San Antonio, 7; 8: at Atlanta, 5; 10: at Charlotte, 4; 12: at Oklahoma City, 6:30; 14: New at Orleans, 5; 15: at Milwaukee, 5; 18: Utah, 7:30; 23: at Utah, 5; 25: at Clippers, 8; 28: Dallas, 7; 30: New Orleans, 6:30.
DECEMBER
1: Phoenix, 7; 4: at Toronto, 4:30; 5: at Boston, 4; 7: at Philadelphia, 4:30; 18: at Utah, 6; 20: at Clippers, 7:30; 23: at Phoenix, 6; 25: Houston, 5; 28: Sacramento, 6:30; 30: Detroit, 7:30.
JANUARY
2: Memphis, 7:30, 4: Memphis, 6:30; 6: at New Orleans, 5; 7: at San Antonio, 4:30; 9: Milwaukee, 7:30; 12: at Sacramento, 7; 13: Atlanta, 7:30; 15: Charlotte, 7:30; 17: at Portland, 7; 18: Toronto, 6:30; 20: at Denver, 7; 22: at Clippers, 7; 24: at Dallas, 5:30; 26: at Chicago, 5; 28: at Cleveland, 4; 30: at Washington, 4.
FEBRUARY
1: at New York, 4; 3: at Brooklyn, 4:30; 5: Philadelphia, 7; 7: Golden State, 5:30; 9: Oklahoma City, 7; 10: San Antonio, 7:30; 12: Dallas, 7; 20: Clippers, 7; 22: Boston, 3:30; 24: Orlando, 7:30; 26: at Phoenix, 6; 28: at Golden State, 5:30.
MARCH
1: Sacramento, 6:30; 3: New Orleans, 7:30; 5: at Denver, 7; 6: Indiana, 7:30; 8: New York, 12:30; 10: Minnesota, 8; 12: Chicago, 7:30; 14: Denver, 5:30; 16: at Houston, 6; 18: at Houston, 6:30; 19: at Miami, 5; 21: at Orlando, 4; 23: at Detroit, 4; 25: at Indiana, 4; 27: Brooklyn, 7:30; 30: Washington, 7; 31: Cleveland, 7:30.
APRIL
2: at Oklahoma City, 4:30; 5: at Dallas, 4:30; 7: Oklahoma City, 7:30; 9: at Golden State, 7; 10: Phoenix, 7:30; 12: Utah, 5:30.
At long last, most of the 2025-26 NBA regular season schedule is known.
All 30 teams know 80 of their 82 games, with the two exceptions being the contests played after the conclusion of the NBA Cup group stage. During that "open" week, all teams are guaranteed two games, and the two teams that reach the NBA Cup final will play a third game that does not count toward official league records/stats or fantasy basketball results.
Because of the uncertainty caused by the NBA Cup, Yahoo! leagues will once again feature two "combo" weeks, one of which will bookend All-Star Weekend.
Below is a breakdown of the 2025-26 regular season schedule from a fantasy standpoint.
Five teams will play a league-high 16 back-to-backs
Charlotte, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington are scheduled to play 16 back-to-backs, which is especially notable for the 76ers. Not only did the team's "big three" of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George all see their 2024-25 seasons end prematurely due to injury, but so did guard Jared McCain. In Embiid's case, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said Thursday that he was unsure if the center would be a full go when training camp opens in late September. Injury management days can significantly impact fantasy basketball, and one would assume that there may be a few of those days in the cards for Embiid, given his injury history.
The Hornets will play five back-to-back games in October and November, beginning with games against Philadelphia and Washington on October 25-26. Will LaMelo Ball, who has not hit 50 games played since the 2021-22 season, be allowed to play back-to-backs immediately, or will the Hornets look to manage his workload early on? Charlotte added Collin Sexton via trade and re-signed Tre Mann, two players who will be of added interest in fantasy leagues if Ball is not playing back-to-backs immediately.
However, there is a silver lining in the 76ers’ scheduling “cloud.”
According to Positive Residual’s scheduling data, the 76ers are one of three teams with 14 games in which they'll have the advantage from a rest standpoint, with Utah and Sacramento being the others. Toronto and Detroit will have the rest advantage for 13 games. On the other side of the coin are the Warriors, who have 14 games in which they'll be at a disadvantage regarding rest. Eight teams, including the 76ers, Timberwolves, and Nuggets, will be at a disadvantage for 12 games.
The Golden State Warriors and the LA Clippers are among the teams that will play 15 back-to-backs
The Warriors and Clippers have two of the older cores in the NBA, with the latter being the oldest based on average age. The good news for Los Angeles is that Kawhi Leonard has been able to focus on sharpening his skills this summer instead of recovering from another injury. Will that impact his usage once the regular season begins, or will he and the Clippers continue prioritizing him being fresh for the postseason? Similar questions can be asked of James Harden and Chris Paul, even if they don't have the same injury concerns as Leonard.
Golden State will have Jimmy Butler on board from the start, which should help from a chemistry standpoint. However, he, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are all 35 or older heading into the 2025-26 season. And this doesn't consider the expected addition of Al Horford, as the 39-year-old has to wait for the Warriors to reach a solution with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga (De'Anthony Melton is also on hold). Miami and Portland are also scheduled to play 15 back-to-backs, two teams that don't hold the same age concerns as the Warriors and Clippers.
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Indiana, Minnesota and Oklahoma City play a league-low 13 back-to-backs
This group includes the reigning champs, two expected contenders in Houston and Minnesota, a Hawks team that hopes to work its way into the mix, and the Celtics and Pacers, who appear to be headed for a "bridge year" with Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton recovering from Achilles tendon tears. The Hawks and Rockets will get some help schedule-wise, as they're working in Kristaps Porzingis and Kevin Durant, respectively. Both players have struggled with injuries in recent seasons, but KD did play 62 games for the Suns last season (and 75 the year prior).
The two “double weeks” are December 8-21 and February 9-22.
In Yahoo! public leagues, there are two instances in which two game weeks will count as one from a scoring standpoint. The first occurs in December due to the need to finalize schedules after NBA Cup group play concludes. For the first part of that "week," only two games will count for each team, including the two that reach the NBA Cup final. Once again, that game will not count toward official records, stats or fantasy scoring. The other double week sandwiches the All-Star break, with All-Star Weekend scheduled for February 13-15 in Los Angeles. Among the teams that will play a back-to-back immediately out of the break are Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver and LA Clippers.
Five teams have a five-game week, including the Lakers and 76ers.
The Lakers (Week 13), Heat (Week 14), 76ers (Week 21), Suns and Wizards (Week 22) all have a week in which they're scheduled to play five games. The latter three teams stand to impact fantasy basketball the most, as weeks 21 and 22 will likely be playoff weeks for many leagues. Philadelphia will be a team of interest due to the injury history of the team's star players, most notably Embiid and George. The Lakers' five-game week concludes on January 18 with a home game against the Raptors before the team embarks on an eight-game road trip. Miami will be on a five-game road trip out west when it plays its "loaded" week, beginning with a January 19-20 back-to-back against the Warriors and Kings.
If, for some reason, your league includes April’s entire schedule, the Knicks and Trail Blazers are the teams to avoid.
Twenty-eight of the 30 teams will play either six or seven games in April, but the Knicks and Trail Blazers only play five. Given how many teams have handled their rosters in recent seasons, there's no need for a fantasy league to include April. But, in case your league does, New York and Portland's role players are at a disadvantage due to the schedule. Also of note for April is that the entire league will play on April 10 and 12, the final two game days of the regular season. Games on Sunday, April 12 will begin at either 6 pm Eastern (seven Eastern Conference matchups) or 8:30 pm Eastern (seven Western Conference games and one interconference matchup).
The 2024-25 season was by all means a success for the Knicks, as the team won 51 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. But it ended in disappointment, as they fell short of the NBA Finals and lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games.
The New York front office decided if they are going to take the next step, there needs to be a change. Head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired after five seasons on June 3 and Mike Brown was officially hired on July 7. The veteran coach is now tasked with leading Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Co. over the hump in pursuit of the franchise's first championship since 1973.
With the NBA announcing it's regular season schedule on Thursday, here are some notes on the Knicks 2025-26 schedule:
-- New York opens at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.
-- They stay home to face the Boston Celtics, who'll be without Jayson Tatum this season due to injury, on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. on Prime. The Knicks and Celtics face off again on December 2 in Boston, but then not again until Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Boston, followed by their third-to-last game of the year on April 9.
-- The Knicks will play Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs again on Christmas Day at 12:00 p.m. at the Garden
-- Some notable matchups against other top teams in the league include at the Dallas Mavericks and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg on Nov. 19, at San Antonio and Spurs star Victor Wembanyama on Dec. 31, home against LeBron James and Luka Doncic's Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, 2026, and two games against reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder in March (3/4/26 at home, 3/29/26 on the road).
Here's the rest of the New York's 2025-26 schedule:
Kurt Helin