{"id":865296,"date":"2025-08-14T22:12:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T03:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/14\/kentucky-themed-takeaways-from-the-2025-26-nba-schedule-release\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T22:12:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T03:12:03","slug":"kentucky-themed-takeaways-from-the-2025-26-nba-schedule-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/14\/kentucky-themed-takeaways-from-the-2025-26-nba-schedule-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky-themed takeaways from the 2025-26 NBA schedule release"},"content":{"rendered":"

Basketball <\/p>\n

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The NBA released its complete 2025-26 regular season schedule<\/a> on Thursday \u2014 basketball season isn\u2019t too far away\u2026<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s 80th regular season officially begins Tuesday, Oct. 21, and will end on Sunday, April 12. Mixed in between will be the second annual NBA Cup, which runs from Oct. 31 until the championship game on Dec. 16. The traditional five-game Christmas Day slate has made its return once again, as well. This year\u2019s NBA All-Star Game will be held in the Intuit Dome (LA Clippers) on Feb. 15, which will take place shortly after the trade deadline on Feb. 5. <\/p>\n

With new TV partnerships spread across ESPN, NBA, and Amazon Prime, there will be plenty of new ways to watch and listen this season. <\/p>\n

And once again, dozens of former Kentucky players will suit up to play. Including 2025 second-round draft picks Koby Brea<\/a><\/strong> and Amari Williams<\/a><\/strong>, there will be close to 30<\/strong> one-time Wildcats on NBA rosters come the season-opener \u2014 and potentially more depending on what happens contract-wise with a few others on the outside looking in.<\/p>\n

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In short, you won\u2019t have to flip through many games on any given night this season before stumbling on a UK alum in action. From impactful superstars such as reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a><\/strong> down to players on Exhibit 10 training camp deals such as Olivier Sarr<\/a><\/strong>, there will be plenty of blue and white talent to go around in the world\u2019s top professional hoops league. <\/p>\n

Speaking of Gilgeous-Alexander, his defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will lead the NBA this season in nationally televised games. The Thunder, along with the Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks, will all grace our TV screens 34 times in 2025-26. OKC will kick off its bid for a repeat title on Opening Night (Oct. 21 on NBC\/Peacock) as the Thunder host Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard<\/a><\/strong>, and the new-look Houston Rockets. On that note, the Thunder and Indiana Pacers will hold an NBA Finals rematch on Oct. 23. The Pacers brought back Isaiah Jackson<\/a><\/strong>, who missed nearly all of last season with a torn Achilles, on a multi-year deal. <\/p>\n

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But back to Sheppard for a second. After a disappointing rookie campaign, he expects to play a significant role in year two next to a future Hall of Famer in Durant. The former No. 3 overall pick will have a chance to prove he\u2019s ready right away against SGA and Co. in a primetime game with lots of eyes on it. The same narrative goes for Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham<\/a><\/strong>, who will open his sophomore season on Oct. 22 against Shaedon Sharpe<\/a><\/strong> and the Portland Trail Blazers. Dillingham, the No. 8 overall pick in 2024, will look to take over as a primary ball handler alongside Anthony Edwards in Minnesota\u2019s hunt for a third straight Western Conference Finals berth. <\/p>\n

Christmas Day schedule (ESPN\/ABC)<\/h2>\n

All five Christmas Day games this season will feature at least one former \u2018Cat, headlined by San Antonio (Victor Wembanyama on Christmas? Yes, please) vs. Oklahoma City. This will mark OKC\u2019s first Christmas Day game since 2018. Only the Cavaliers and Warriors do not currently roster a Kentucky player, although Cleveland\u2019s Jaxson Robinson<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 on an Exhibit 10 deal \u2014 could end up making the cut if he performs well in camp.<\/p>\n