The Boston Celtics will begin their NBA championship defense just three months after winning the title. And another exciting NBA season is about to begin. Here’s what you need to know about when the 2024/25 season will begin.
When does the 2024/25 NBA season start?
The 2024/25 NBA season will begin on October 23. Before that, teams will play a series of preseason warm-up games, ending on October 19.
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NBA 2024/25 season opening match schedule
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the opening round of the 2024/25 season will have two notable matches. Those are the defending champion Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Day | Hour | Match |
| 10/23 | CXĐ | Celtics vs Knicks |
| 10/23 | CXD | Lakers vs Timberwolves |
Before the match between the Celtics and the Knicks, the TD Garden team will hold a trophy-raising ceremony and present championship rings to members. This is an NBA tradition at the beginning of the new season.
This year, the Celtics still retain the same core that won the NBA championship last season with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis… On the Knicks side, Mikal Bridges will have his first match in a new jersey. Julius Randle also returns to the Knicks lineup after a serious injury at the end of last season. Both teams are top candidates for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, so this is a match worth waiting for.
In the other match, the Lakers take on the Timberwolves. This is JJ Redick’s debut as head coach of the Lakers. He will lead LeBron James, Anthony Davis and anticipated rookies like Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.
The Lakers’ opponent is the team that reached the Western Conference Finals last season, the Timberwolves, with quality players like Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. This year, the Wolves continue to be the top team in the West.
SEE MORE: Which team has won the most championships in NBA history?
