The National Basketball Association (NBA) officially unveiled its full schedule for the 2016-2017 regular season on Thursday, August 12 (Friday, Manila time).
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The season opens on October 25 with three games, headlined by reigning champions the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the New York Knicks.
NY also signed shooting guard Courtney Lee to complement an intriguing starting unit that will be tested right away against LeBron James and his Cavs.
Later that night, the Warriors play their first game since Durant left the Thunder to join them when they host the San Antonio Spurs, who will be opening a new era for the franchise following Tim Duncan’s retirement. Newly acquired 12-time All-Star Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls host recently signed four-time All-Star Al Horford and the Boston Celtics, and nine-time All-Star Chris Paul and the LA Clippers visit two-time All-Star Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Wade, a Chicago native who had spent his entire career in Miami, plays his first game with the Bulls at home on October 27 against Boston.
– Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors, November 3: Kevin Durant goes up against his old team for the first time.
– Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers, Christmas Day: Players have mixed feelings about being away from family on this special day, but this is a feast for fans, in a rematch of the 2016 NBA Finals.
Knicks at Bulls (November 5) – Derrick Rose, as a Knick, makes his return to Chicago where he spent the first 8 years of his career and led the team to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2011. Whereas teams could play as many as four such streaks in the 2014-15 season, no team will play more than one this season.
The Warriors will close the season with six of their last seven games at home.
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Kevin Durant won’t have to return to Oklahoma City until February 11, the 54th game of the season.
