Constructed to win a championship, the Knicks will instantly see how they and their latest participant, Mikal Bridges, stack up after they attempt to spoil the Celtics’ championship ring celebration on opening evening in Boston.
The NBA unveiled its 2024-25 schedule Thursday with the Knicks-Celtics rivalry opening the season on Oct. 22. That shall be adopted by Olympic teammates LeBron James and Anthony Edwards squaring off on the marquee evening when the Lakers host the Timberwolves.
The Knicks completed second within the Jap Convention final season — 14 video games behind the first-place Celtics — however have been stricken by accidents within the postseason and misplaced within the convention semifinals to the Pacers, who have been then swept by the Celtics within the convention finals.
In an try to achieve floor on the reigning champion Celtics, the Knicks swung their first commerce with the Nets since 1983, sending 5 first-round draft picks, a first-round decide swap and a second-round decide to land Bridges within the greatest commerce of the summer season.
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The Knicks hope the addition of Bridges, who shall be reunited with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo in New York, will assist them win the East. The Celtics completed with the NBA’s greatest document (64-18) final season earlier than going 16-3 within the postseason, rolling to the 18th championship in franchise historical past and their first since 2008.
Edwards and the Wolves want to take a step ahead after reaching the Western Convention finals final postseason. The Lakers’ opener may be a primary glimpse at rookie Bronny James, chosen fifty fifth general out of USC.
The second evening of the season shall be highlighted by one other heavyweight matchup between two Jap Convention contenders. The 76ers’ new massive three of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey make their long-awaited debut after they host Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks on Oct. 23.
A number of hours later, on the other coast in Inglewood, California, Steve Ballmer will open his state-of-the-art Intuit Dome when the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden christen the most recent court docket within the league in opposition to the Suns and Olympians Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The Intuit Dome will maintain its next-most-anticipated sport two weeks later when George returns with the Sixers to Los Angeles to face his previous crew. George was presupposed to open Intuit Dome with Leonard however as an alternative shall be motivated to gentle up the brand new enviornment after the Clippers would not match the four-year, $212 million deal he signed with Philadelphia.
George stated he would have taken the identical three-year, $150 million deal that Leonard signed in an extension in January however wished a no-trade clause connected to it as nicely. The Clippers opted to let George stroll after 5 seasons by which Leonard and George could not fulfill championship expectations largely due to accidents.
George is not the one pure-shooting All-Star to vary houses this offseason. Klay Thompson will make his extremely anticipated Mavericks debut alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in opposition to tremendous sophomore Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Oct. 24.
On Nov. 12, Thompson will make what definitely shall be an emotional return to Golden State to face Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced as an opponent for the primary time. After contract negotiations to remain in San Francisco did not go the best way he had hoped, Thompson shall be impressed to point out he has loads of 3-pointers left in him.
The highest two groups to complete within the West final season will face off through the first week of the brand new season. The Thunder journey to Denver on Oct. 24 in a sport that options Nuggets reigning MVP Nikola Jokic in opposition to MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Ja Morant will make his long-awaited return to the court docket when the Grizzlies play at Utah on Oct. 23. Morant performed in a complete of 9 video games final season as a consequence of suspension and a labral tear suffered in his proper shoulder in January. The Grizzlies completed 27-55, however they drafted Purdue’s Zach Edey ninth general.
And with Morant — who was absolutely cleared to take part in basketball actions in July — again, Memphis must be poised to contend within the West once more.
The NBA’s Christmas Day lineup shall be star-studded. It opens with the league’s potential face of the longer term, Wembanyama, making his Christmas debut at Madison Sq. Backyard in opposition to the Knicks. Doncic and the Mavericks will host Edwards and the Wolves in a rematch of the Western Convention finals. The Sixers will then see the place they stand in opposition to the champs in Boston.
That shall be adopted by Curry and James assembly for the fourth time on Christmas. The 2 stars, who helped Group USA win gold in Paris, shall be reunited when the Lakers journey to San Francisco to face Golden State. The vacation slate will end with Jokic’s Nuggets at Phoenix to face Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal.
The league’s All-Star Weekend shall be held Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco. The common season will conclude April 13.
