The 2025/26 NBA season will tip off on October 21 with a pair of Western Conference matchups, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).
The Rockets will go up against the 2024 title-winning Thunder to open the evening, followed by the Warriors against the Lakers.
This means Kevin Durant, on the new-look Rockets, will be heading to Oklahoma City on the night they receive their championship rings. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry will go up against LeBron James for the 57th time in their careers.
While the Mavericks were not tapped with an opening night game, Marc Stein of the Stein Line reports (via Twitter) that their season will start on October 22 against the Spurs in what is sure to be a much-anticipated showdown between this year’s No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg and 2023’s top pick Victor Wembanyama, as well as this year’s No. 2 selection Dylan Harper.
Stein also notes (via Twitter) that the league has announced that group play for the NBA Cup will take place between October 31 and November 28 this season.
I absolutely love the league doing that to KD
He’ll be ok .. will still bring some thunder
Every year the league trying to promote a Curry and Lebron rivalry which there is not. If you are going to have the 2 best teams in the west you should do the same for the 2 best east teams.
Should be decent games. I’ll watch.
KD will be out “injured”