Gregg Popovich laughs at the competition, while the NBA releases their 2015 season schedule.
Before we begin anything, we’re seriously wondering why Adam Silver and the NBA choose not to have LeBron James start the 2015 season. LeBron makes his official 2015 premiere two nights later against the New York Knicks at home, which will be the prime-time match-up for the first Thursday next season. New York will have a tough home opener, with Derrick Rose and his very hungry Chicago Bulls coming to MSG to start their season the night before.
Opening night features the San Antonio Spurs receiving their 2014 NBA Championship rings in a ceremony, and play in-state rival, the Dallas Mavericks. Last season, Dallas was surprisingly the world champion’s toughest opening, taking them 7 games in the first round.
Kobe Bryant makes his return in the night cap of opening play, as the Los Angeles Lakers host former player Dwight Howard and his Houston Rockets. Both teams, who aren’t favorites to make the playoffs next April, are surprisingly in the top 7 among teams in most national televised games. The Clippers and Thunder top all teams with 32 games on TV each, with Chicago and Cleveland behind at 30 and 29.
Opening Night
October 28, 2014, Orlando at New Orleans, 8 p.m., League Pass
October 28, 2014, Dallas at San Antonio, 8 p.m., TNT
October 28, 2014, Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Christmas Day (All times listed are ET)
December 25, 2014, Washington at New York, 12 p.m., ESPN
December 25, 2014, Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 2 p.m., ABC
December 25, 2014, Cleveland at Miami, 5 p.m., ABC
December 25, 2014, L.A. Lakers at Chicago, 8 p.m., TNT
December 25, 2014, Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Martin Luther King Day (All times listed are ET)
January 19, 2015, Minnesota at Charlotte, 2 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Philadelphia at Washington, 2 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Detroit at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
January 19, 2015, Boston at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Denver at Golden State, 4 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Dallas at Memphis, 5 p.m., NBA TV
January 19, 2015, Indiana at Houston, 5:30 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, New Orleans at New York, 5:30 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Toronto at Milwaukee, 8 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, Chicago at Cleveland, 8 p.m., TNT
January 19, 2015, Sacramento at Portland, 10 p.m., League Pass
January 19, 2015, L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m., TNT