The NBA has officially revealed its full 2025-26 regular-season schedule, and while opening night is still over two months away on October 21, fans are already circling the games they cannot miss. The schedule is more than just a list of dates. It sets the stage for the season’s biggest games, key rivalries, emotional returns, and championship rematches.
The league has made it clear which games they believe will draw the most attention. From the four franchises tied for the most nationally televised games to the rookies set to debut in must-watch showdowns, the next nine months are mapped out with basketball drama.
National Spotlight: The 34-Game Leaders
The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks each top the list with 34 nationally televised games. That number reflects more than on-court success. It shows brand power, superstar appeal, and the NBA’s confidence that these teams can deliver big ratings every time they play.
For the Lakers, Luka Dončić’s arrival ensures their games will be appointment viewing. The Warriors, as long as Stephen Curry is healthy, remain a guaranteed draw. The Thunder earned their slot by winning the 2024-25 championship, and the Knicks’ deep playoff run put them back in the national conversation, making their games must-see TV.
Opening Night: Statement Games to Start the Season
The new campaign begins October 21 with two marquee games. The Thunder host the Rockets in a championship banner ceremony, pitting Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against Kevin Durant in his Houston debut. Later, the Lakers face the Warriors in Los Angeles in another chapter of the LeBron James–Stephen Curry rivalry, alongside Dončić’s first regular-season game in purple and gold.
These opening night games are more than season openers. They set the tone for the months ahead and spotlight the NBA’s most marketable stars right out of the gate.
Rookie Matchup That Could Steal the Show
On October 22, another headline-grabbing game takes place when No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks face No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and the Spurs. It is only the second time since 1966 that the top two picks in a draft will meet in their first career regular-season game.
Flagg’s first NBA games will feature him alongside Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, while Harper’s debut will be with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox — making Spurs games among the most intriguing early in the schedule.
Emotional Return Games to Watch
November will feature two of the most anticipated return games of the year. On November 24, Durant heads back to Phoenix for the first time since being traded to Houston. Just four days later, Anthony Davis returns to Los Angeles when the Mavericks face the Lakers in an NBA Cup group game.
Other return games include Myles Turner’s first trip to Indiana as a Buck, Desmond Bane going back to Memphis with the Magic, and reunion games in Boston for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Christmas Day Games and NBA Cup Drama
The NBA’s Christmas Day tradition continues with five games starting at noon, when the Knicks host the Cavaliers in a matchup of Eastern Conference contenders. The night ends with the Nuggets hosting the Timberwolves in a rivalry that has already produced classic postseason games.
The NBA Cup, now in its third year, begins group play on Halloween. Key games to watch include the Bucks at Knicks on November 28 in what could determine Cup advancement. Last season, Milwaukee’s NBA Cup run sparked a major turnaround, showing that these midseason games can have real playoff implications.
Thunder’s Path Through Big Games
The defending champion Thunder have a schedule packed with high-stakes games. They will see the Timberwolves, their Western Conference Finals opponent, in late November, and they face the Nuggets four times from February onward.
They also have marquee games against Eastern Conference favorites Cleveland and New York, many of which come late in the season when playoff positioning will be on the line. These games will test their repeat hopes and keep them in the national spotlight.
Why the Games on the Schedule Matter
The NBA schedule is more than logistics. It is a blueprint for how the league will shape narratives, promote stars, and maximize fan engagement. National TV games are the league’s most valuable real estate, and their distribution says a lot about which teams the NBA expects to stay relevant deep into the season.
For veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, these games are opportunities to add to already legendary careers. For rising stars like Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama, these games are stages to prove they belong in the league’s top tier. And for rookies like Flagg and Harper, the early games could set the tone for the next decade of NBA storylines.
When October 21 arrives, speculation will give way to results, and the season’s biggest games will begin to shape playoff races, MVP debates, and championship dreams. Until then, the release of the 2025-26 schedule is its own kind of scoreboard — one that tells fans exactly which games the NBA believes will matter most.
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