The NBA has begun to announce their season schedule, with five games to be played on Christmas day, a possible preview of the conference finals on opening day and Australian Ben Simmons to debut with the Philadelphia 76ers on the second day of the season.
Simmons, who spent all of last season on the shelf with injury after being drafted by the 76ers with the No.1 pick, is expected to return for the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
The youthful 76ers team coached by Brett Brown will play their first game on Wednesday, October 18 (Thursday, October 19 in Australia) against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Centre in the capital.
Simmons is joined on the 76ers squad by other youngsters in Markelle Fultz, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid, with their opening trip to Washington likely to tell us plenty about the team’s prospects of escaping the bottom of the NBA, where they have sat for the last few seasons.
Philadelphia will also be involved in a game being played at the O2 Arena in London on January 11, 2018 against the Boston Celtics.
The NBA has announced there will be eight games televised nationally over the first four days of the season, and most of these are expected to be shown in Australia.
Opening night will see a double-header with both of last year’s finalists involved in what could shape as a potential preview of the Conference finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will play the first game of the evening at 8pm (ET) – 11am (AEST) against the Boston Celtics, who they faced during the conference finals last season, beating comprehensively to the tune of 4-1.
While the Houston Rockets avoided eventual champions the Golden State Warriors during the playoffs, they won’t on opening night as they face a tough trip to the Bay.
With Houston adding Chris Paul to their roster over the off-season and constant rumours that Carmello Anthony wants to go the same way, they are firming as favourites alongside fellow Texans the San Antonio Spurs to challenge the Warriors in the Western Conference.
San Antonio themselves will open their season the following day against Minnesota, while Paul George will make his first outing in a Thunder uniform on Friday, October 20 against the New York Knicks.
Other televised games to tip-off the season include the Los Angeles derby between the Lakers and Clippers, Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker’s Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Cavaliers and New Orleans playing the Warriors.
Christmas Day will once again see five games back-to-back. It’ll be headlined by a replay of last season’s finals series, with the Warriors to host the Cavaliers in the second game of the day.
The day opens with the 76ers playing their first Christmas game since 1978 against the New York Knicks, while Boston will host Washington, the Thunder play the Rockets and the Lakers host the Timberwolves to close the day out at the Staples Center.
| Date (Aus) | Time (AEST) | Home | Away | Venue |
| Wed Oct 18 | 11:00 AM | Cleveland Cavaliers | Boston Celtics | Quicken Loans Arena |
| Wed Oct 18 | 1:00 PM | Golden State Warriors | Houston Rockets | Oracle Arena |
| Thu Oct 19 | 10:00 AM | Washington Wizards | Philadelphia 76ers | Verizon Center |
| Thu Oct 19 | 12:30 PM | San Antonio Spurs | Minnesota Timberwolves | AT&T Center |
| Fri Oct 20 | 11:00 AM | Oklahoma City Thunder | New York Knicks | Chesapeake Energy Arena |
| Fri Oct 20 | 1:30 PM | Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles Clippers | Staples Center |
| Sat Oct 21 | 10:00 AM | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers | Harris Bradley Center |
| Sat Oct 21 | 12:30 PM | New Orleans Pelicans | Golden State Warriors | Smoothie King Center |
| Date (Aus) | Time (AEST) | Home | Away | Venue |
| Tue Dec 26 | 4:00 AM | New York Knicks | Philadelphia 76ers | Madison Square Garden |
| Tue Dec 26 | 7:00 AM | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | Oracle Arena |
| Tue Dec 26 | 9:30 AM | Boston Celtics | Washington Wizards | TD Garden |
| Tue Dec 26 | 12:00 PM | Oklahoma City Thunder | Houston Rockets | Chesapeake Energy Arena |
| Tue Dec 26 | 2:30 PM | Los Angeles Lakers | Minnesota Timberwolves | Staples Center |
The full NBA schedule is expected to be announced later on Friday.
Simon Douch
Roar Guru
So keen to watch Philly play this year. I didn't get to see Simmons much during his college days, but if he lives up to the hype I'll be getting ready for Tokyo 2020! Simmons, Exum, Maker. The Golden age in Australian basketball.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Not sure how I came up with that Swampy - fixed. Cheers. Philly could an interesting team to watch this season.
Swampy
Guest
Not sure how 'Australian' coach Brown is but he has certainly been a significant coach through our ranks. Philly will definitely be on my league pass radar this season.