The release of the NBA schedule is finally here. After commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that the league was waiting for an official decision from LeBron James, it didn’t take long for the matchups for the next regular season to drop.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of interest went directly to the opening slate. But a unique start time and some intriguing matchups have left a majority of the basketball world stunned. Even reigning NBA champion Josh Hart couldn’t hide his shock over the announcement.
Josh Hart Leads Social Media Over NBA Opening Day Shock
October 20, 2026, is the official start of the 2026-27 NBA season. Senior insider Shams Charania confirmed the schedule for the first day of the new season. But in a departure from the norm, the league is opting for a triple-header this time around.
The usual nighttime schedule was detailed by him as he wrote, “NBA Opening Night on Oct. 20 on NBC: Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks, OKC Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs.” Those games are slated to take place at 7:00 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET, respectively.
However, in addition to those two games, the league will have a third clash between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons to kick off proceedings at 3:00 p.m. ET instead. For one fan, though, that was a massive improvement from previous years.
“I can’t remember the last time there was a 3pm season opener, silver cooking with this new media deal.” For others, like YouTube content creator Six Rings of Steel, the new start time might take some getting used to.
“The NBA season starting at 3pm is going to feel so weird.” However, the excitement was immediately palpable, as comments like, “I’m so hype. Let’s go,” started pouring in a hurry. But the icing on the cake was undeniably the Knicks vs. Sixers contest.
In James’ first game with the 76ers, facing off against New York in their city on banner night, under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, was a spectacular opening act for the league as a whole.
As James L. Edwards III of The Athletic awed, “Knicks’ ring night, LeBron’s first game as a 76er … only at MSG.” Even Hart was left stunned by the choice, as he wrote, “Can’t lie. I’m extremely shocked this is the slate.”
Absolute CINEMA incoming pic.twitter.com/HHEBtClYrz
— KnicksLegion 🏆🗽 (@knickslegion) August 11, 2026
However, not every person was on board with the idea. A huge New York fan believed that the choice of the opening-day slate was a move by the commissioner to take some of the shine off the Knicks and put it on the four-time NBA champion.
“Imo it’s obvious now that Adam Silver was ‘waiting for LeBron to make a decision’ to create the schedule bc it was always going to be LeBron at MSG to watch the Knicks get their rings & banner. Incredibly corny & typical NBA to not let the Knicks have their moment without a sprinkle of Lebron nonsense.”
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It’s hard to believe that the presence of James is going to detract from what is sure to be a heartwarming spectacle at The Garden. Raising their first championship banner in over half a century, it should be a celebration in New York.
But right after, a new season tips off in one of the most widely anticipated games of the entire NBA calendar.
