Thunder seek repeat as NBA unveils 2025-26 schedule with TV slate

The NBA released the schedule for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, laying out a slate that features the Oklahoma City Thunder as the defending champions anchoring a heavy national-television lineup, a high-profile opening night, and a batch of marquee Christmas-week games. The calendar comes amid a transformative summer for several teams, most notably the Boston Celtics, who face long odds to reclaim a title after a season marked by Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and a major roster reshuffle.

The Thunder enter the season with considerable momentum. They won their first NBA title in dramatic fashion last season and, after retaining the core of that championship roster, are positioned as a popular pick to repeat. A key factor behind the optimism is continuity: beyond a few depth-chart changes, Oklahoma City will largely run it back, setting the stage for what executives and analysts describe as a potential title repeat. The team will open the year in a spotlight moment, hosting the Rockets on Opening Night, with a pregame ceremony that will include the presentation of their championship rings and banner-raising.

Off the court, the schedule highlights a broader landscape of parity...