Breaking down NBA's opening-day and Christmas schedules, plus WNBA stretch run
Antoine Walker turns 49 years old today! During his 12-year career: He finished 12th in MVP voting in his second season, said he shoots so many 3-pointers because there are no 4-pointers and had one of the greatest video game commercials ever. Happy birthday, 'Toine!
We have opening night and Christmas schedules!
I know what you've been thinking. You've been wondering just how bad this new 'War of the Worlds' movie can be about the NBA's upcoming schedules on some of its biggest days. Wonder no longer, my friends! While the league hasn't officially announced these games, The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov are all over the case.
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First, we're going to get a pretty intriguing ring-ceremony showdown, followed by two of the greatest to ever lace up the sneakers. These are your opening-night games!
Rockets at Thunder: Yes, Kevin Durant will make his Houston debut when one of his old teams, the Thunder, will be raising a championship banner for the first time. This is like your new job making you attend your ex's wedding. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and the rest of the Thunder will get their sectional-sized rings, and Houston, the No. 2 team in 2024's West standings, will try to use it as motivation.
If you're wondering whether Durant is feeling any sort of way about it, this was his response during a social media session (he talked so much trash this weekend, we probably should do a section on it Friday) when asked about having to watch the Thunder raise a banner that night:
Finally. It's been 10 years, bout time they win one lmaooo
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 10, 2025
That's a real tweet. It's not photoshop. It wasn't a fake meme. It's a real tweet.
Anyway, after that throwdown between West titans, we'll get Steph Curry versus LeBron James for the 56th time in their careers (including playoffs).
Warriors at Lakers: This will cap off opening night, and it's a very smart decision by the NBA. People question what the league will do to promote its stars once LeBron (40 years old, ICYMI) and Steph (37) are gone. Well, keep throwing these guys out there until you have to cross that bridge. They're still the biggest draws, and they'll help NBC's opening night perfectly. Plus, you get Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in the mix.
The other big calendar date for the NBA is Christmas Day, a holiday hoops has traditionally owned. Roger Goodell is encroaching on the holiday, and maybe that galvanized the NBA, because they hit on all five games (health permitting). This is the schedule, in my recommended order:
The rest of the season schedule should be known to us later in this week? Maybe next week? We're not totally sure yet, but it's coming soon. We'll have a full breakdown of everything you need from it.
The Concern-O-Meter™ hits the NBA!
🏀 Time to panic? I wrote about 10 potential concerns heading into next season. Including Giannis' future in Milwaukee!
💰 Another coach extended. We've seen a lot of coaches get contract extensions this summer. Boston and Joe Mazzulla just extended their relationship.
🏀 WNBA history! A'ja Wilson just did something no other WNBA player has done. She put up a 30-20 game.
🏈 Tiered up! This isn't basketball, but I always enjoy when Mike Sando unveils quarterback rankings. This is the top tier of QBs.
Quick Q&A with Sabreena and Ben
The 2025 WNBA trade deadline has passed, and we have roughly one month left in this season. Playoffs begin on September 14, so it's the perfect time to check in with two of our favorite scribes: Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman. I asked them three questions to get us ready for the final stretch.
What was the most significant trade from the start of the season, leading up to the deadline?
Ben: A few days before the deadline, the Minnesota Lynx acquired All-WNBA defensive first-team guard DiJonai Carrington in a trade with the Dallas Wings. While in the long run, the trade represents a gamble for the Lynx, who parted ways with former No. 2 pick Diamond Miller as part of the return, 27-5 Minnesota hopes Carrington is a short-term add who can push them to a title.
She has already proven to be a seamless fit in Minnesota. She's played more than 20 minutes in two of her three games, scoring in double-figures each time, and is an elite perimeter defender now playing with elite rim defenders. She takes defensive pressure off teammate Kayla McBride.
Sabreena: Lots of different ways to interpret the word significant, so I'll choose the Las Vegas Aces trading their 2027 first-round pick for NaLyssa Smith. After using their 2026 first to move Kelsey Plum for Jewell Loyd, this was basically the last shot the Aces had to meaningfully upgrade their roster around A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. Bringing in Smith doesn't seem to have elevated 18-14 Las Vegas to a championship contender, but the team has given up a pick in what could be an all-time draft featuring JuJu Watkins, Madison Booker, Hannah Hidalgo and more.
Can the Aces get it together? Who is your pick (outside of the 20-11 Liberty) to challenge the dominant Lynx the rest of the way?
Sabreena: No, I have no hope in the Aces to be more than just a playoff team. As far as challenging Minnesota, the Lynx's biggest weakness is on the glass, and 20-11 Atlanta has given them some difficulty because of their size. If the Dream's 3s are going in, that could be a tough postseason matchup.
Ben: The Aces were my preseason pick to make the Finals, but it's hard to imagine them reaching that point with how inconsistent they've been. New York — when healthy — and Minnesota are the league's two best teams, but it's not out of the question that the Liberty slip down the standings because of their rash of injuries. That opens the door, ever-so-slightly, for teams like Atlanta and 19-12 Phoenix, especially if New York somehow ends up as the No. 4 seed.
We must have a Caitlin Clark question, so what's your bold prediction for the rest of her or the Fever's season?
Sabreena: With or without Clark, the Indiana Fever will win a playoff game for the first time in a decade.
Ben: Forced to play an even larger role due to recent injuries to Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson, Aliyah Boston will make an All-WNBA team for the first time in her career.
Don't forget to read: Half-court shot contests fuel WNBA competition.
What can we expect from the NBA Cup chase?
A little over a month ago, the league announced the NBA Cup groupings and scheduling for the third installment of what you might call the In-Season Tournament. But we're really supposed to be calling it by its proper given name, the NBA Cup. Aside from the courts on the floor, I've had a lot of fun during the first two NBA Cups. I'm not sure the NBA is totally accomplishing what it wants the Cup to be yet, but there's definitely something there.
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I think the Cup will eventually become a pretty big deal, even if we're not quite sure what to do with the championship aspect. The money award for the players and the trip to Las Vegas in the middle of December does seem to give the participants something to really play for, especially once we get to the elimination rounds.
We now have the groupings from the NBA, and I want to break them down so far. (Remember, there are three groups of five from each conference. The winner of each group moves on to the elimination rounds, and then there is a wild-card entry also based on group-play success from each conference to give us eight teams in the tournament bracket.)
We'll remind you the Lakers won the inaugural tournament in 2023, and the Bucks took it home last year.
Easy group in the West: Group A! Yes, you have the Thunder and the Wolves in this one. We're not sure how seriously to take the Kings and Suns just yet, and we know the Jazz will be the worst team in the conference by design. This is potentially a two-team group.
Group of death in the West: Group C! Yikes, this is a tough one. Denver and Houston are monsters. The Warriors could be monsters. The Spurs are trying to learn how to be monsters. And if the Blazers can carry over their second half of last season, they'll be tough to handle.
Goldilocks group in the West: Group B is just right. You can't really trust the Pelicans. Dallas likely won't have Kyrie back by this time. The Lakers and Clippers are good teams. Memphis will be good if they're healthy. This is the right amount of competition without being overwhelming.
Easy group in the East: Group A! We don't know if Toronto will be able to climb up. Indiana is going to be without Tyrese Haliburton. Washington is fun but not good yet. We're relying on Atlanta to get it right; otherwise, Cleveland could cruise here.
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Group of death in the East: Group B! This is entirely contingent on the Sixers being healthy, but if Philadelphia can be for this portion of the season, that makes four very tough teams and the Nets. Orlando and Detroit will want to use this as a learning experience.
Goldilocks group in the West: Group C! I'm not believing in Chicago or Charlotte, but any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo (a defending NBA Cup champ, mind you) will compete. Miami is a very solid team when healthy, and we think the Knicks might be the class of the East.
Bonus facts: The Bucks are the best NBA Cup franchise in history, with a 13-1 record including group play. The Knicks are 7-3 overall, but 0-2 in their elimination games. The Wizards have never won in group play (0-8). The Grizzlies and Hornets are both 1-7, the second-worst NBA Cup records of all time.
The games in Las Vegas will happen on December 13 and December 16.
Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
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