The NBA unveiled the 2026-27 schedule Thursday, and among the 1,200-plus games are a slew of matchups rife with potential storylines and drama.
Here's a look at 10 of next season's must-watch contests.
Oct. 20: 76ers at Knicks
LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers will be in attendance as the New York Knicks celebrate Opening Night by raising their 2025-26 championship banner to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. James was linked to New York in free agency, and his agent, Rich Paul, claimed that the league's all-time leading scorer would've signed with the Knicks if they hadn't ended their 53-year title drought.
Oct. 20: Thunder at Spurs
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs cap a thrilling three-game slate on Opening Night by hosting two-time defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference finals. The two sides needed seven games in their previous series, and the Spurs were responsible for eight of the Thunder's 22 total losses last season.
Nov. 2: Raptors at Clippers
Kawhi Leonard will either be a member of the Los Angeles Clippers or the Toronto Raptors when the two sides convene in L.A. in early November. The NBA's investigation into the Clippers' alleged cap circumvention could extend into 2027, and some Raptors players involved in the agreed-upon trade for Leonard may have grounds for grievances if the deal continues to be stalled by the league's probe.
Nov. 6: 76ers at Cavaliers
James returns to Cleveland, but not under the circumstances that many Cavaliers fans envisioned when the 22-time All-Star was linked to a third spell with the team in free agency. James boasts a 20-6 record (.769) against the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2003, averaging 26.9 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on 53.8% shooting in those games.
Dec. 25: Spurs at Knicks
The Christmas Day schedule is intentionally crafted to target a broader audience, and a Finals rematch between the league's emerging young superstar and a storied yet previously starved for success franchise checks all the boxes. The Knicks also hosted the Spurs at MSG in 2024, when Wembanyama recorded a monster 42-point, 18-rebound double-double in a 117-114 loss.
Dec. 25: 76ers at Lakers
Commissioner Adam Silver had publicly urged James to reach a decision as his free-agency saga neared a breaking point, with the league and networks eager to lock in national broadcasts. Perhaps it's fitting that Hollywood will be the backdrop for a reunion that seems scripted. James returns to the scene of a celebrated eight-season stint with the Lakers to presumably face Bronny James in the NBA's first-ever father-versus-son matchup.
Jan. 21: 76ers at Celtics
There are plenty of reasons why Jaylen Brown's return to Boston is must-watch TV. Whether it's the reported tension between Brown and the Celtics' brass, former running mate Jayson Tatum's unaffecting and potentially AI-generated goodbye, or the fact that Brown claims he and Tatum haven't really spoken since the trade, there should be no shortage of drama with this matchup.
Jan. 28: Heat at Bucks
"The city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart," Giannis Antetokounmpo wrote in a heartfelt farewell after his blockbuster trade to the Miami Heat. Despite some public tiffs in the tail end of Antetokounmpo's 13-year tenure with the Bucks, the split between the two parties was amicable. A warm welcome should be in the cards for the franchise's all-time leader in nearly every statistical category.
Feb. 15: Timberwolves at Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets will have a radically different look this season following the departures of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, and the former returns to the Spectrum Center in mid-February for the first time since his surprise trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves. If anything, Ball should be extra motivated, which should result in either an outstanding performance, something hilarious, or both.
Feb. 27: Wizards at Jazz
First overall selection AJ Dybantsa and second pick Darryn Peterson will lock horns when the Washington Wizards visit the Utah Jazz in late Februrary. The top two choices in the 2026 draft both project to become franchise-altering stars. Peterson's assertion that the Wizards passing on him will forever be on his mind could make for a fascinating matchup between two of the league's archetypal also-rans.
