LeBron James (Image Credit: Getty Images)

As we gear up for another thrilling NBA season, the full schedule for the 2024-25 campaign is now available. The anticipation is building with opening night set for October 22, featuring the reigning champion Boston Celtics against the New York Knicks, but fans are far more eager to focus on the season’s most anticipated matchups.

Here are the top 5 NBA 2024-25 season games we’re eagerly awaiting this season:

5. Oct. 22: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics

Unsurprisingly, the season opener is a big deal, and this year’s game will be even more significant. The Boston Celtics will kick off the season with their ring night ceremony against the New York Knicks. As one of their most historic rivals and a significant threat to their championship reign, the Knicks make this matchup particularly intriguing.

The defending champions will celebrate their 2024 title while facing a team that nearly reached the Eastern Conference Finals themselves. With Mikal Bridges joining the Knicks, their chances of making a deep playoff run next spring have only improved, adding extra excitement to this season’s debut.

Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

4. Nov 12: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors

Klay Thompson’s departure from the Warriors after 13 years wasn’t exactly a shock by the time it happened, but seeing him in a new jersey will still be a strange sight. When Thompson makes his first return to the Bay Area, it promises to be an emotional evening. This game is one of the season’s most anticipated matches, with Thompson eager to make a statement against his former team.

Despite his impressive Golden State legacy, which includes being part of one of the greatest shooting backcourts and winning four championships, Thompson felt unhappy during his final season with the Warriors. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will likely target Thompson early and often as he faces Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for the first time since his departure. Fans can expect Thompson to aim for a standout performance, possibly even challenging his record of 14 three-pointers made in a game against his old team.

The Knicks and Nets hadn’t traded with each other since 1983—until this summer. Brooklyn fans might feel like their team has taken a step back to the early ’80s seeing Mikal Bridges in a Knicks uniform. The Nets traded away Bridges for a hefty return: four unprotected first-round picks, a top-four protected first-rounder, an unprotected pick swap, and a second-round pick.

However, those future picks won’t help when the Nets face Bridges and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 15. The game will likely remind Nets fans what they gave up, making it a highly anticipated NBA 2024-25 season.

2. Nov. 1: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves

Last season’s thrilling semifinal playoff series between these teams was packed with dramatic momentum shifts, culminating in the Timberwolves’ incredible 20-point comeback in the second half of Game 7 to stun the defending champions. As these teams face off for the first time since that series, expect the Nuggets to come in with a strong sense of revenge.

Among all the playoff surprises, Minnesota’s stunning Game 7 comeback on the road—overcoming a 20-point deficit to defeat the then-defending champion Nuggets—stands out. Denver will surely be eager to make amends. Beyond the revenge storyline, fans will relish the chance to watch Anthony Edwards, possibly the league’s most exciting player, go head-to-head with Nikola Jokic, widely regarded as the best player in the world.

1. Dec. 25: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

During the Paris Olympics, we finally saw LeBron James and Steph Curry team up, delivering spectacular performances that helped Team USA secure the gold. This Christmas, however, they’ll return to their roles as rivals when they face off. With both being among the greatest players of all time, these matchups are becoming rarer, so we should savor each.

LeBron James has made more Christmas appearances than anyone else in NBA history, with 18 games and 476 points on the holiday. In contrast, Stephen Curry hasn’t had the same festive success. The Warriors hold a 4-6 record in his 10 Christmas games, where Curry has averaged 15.6 points while struggling with a 31.7% shooting percentage and 23.1% from beyond the arc.

Prepare for a season filled with exciting matchups and memorable moments as the NBA’s finest hit the court!