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The new season is set to get underway on the 21st of October 21, in the first of an 11-year media rights deal with NBC, in a deal worth around $76 billion for the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder. (X)
Defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will welcome Houston Rockets in the curtain-raiser of the upcoming season of the NBA, as Los Angeles Lakers square up against the Golden State Warriors in an enticing clash, reports said.
The new season is set to get underway on the 21st of October 21, in the first of an 11-year media rights deal with NBC, in a deal worth around $76 billion for the NBA.
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The 2025-26 season features a new partnership with Amazon, a return to NBC, and a continuing partnership with ESPN and ABC. ABC will broadcast a blockbuster Christmas day slate.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, are scheduled to play against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Christmas. This will be the Cavaliers’ first Christmas appearance since LeBron James played for his hometown team.
Another Christmas game will feature Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City.
James and the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks will visit the Golden State Warriors, and Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in other holiday matchups.
Mazulla extends Celtic contact
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has signed a multi-year contract extension with the team he led to an NBA title in 2024, the club announced on Friday.
While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the extension ensures the 37-year-old American will continue with the Celtics. Mazzulla served as an assistant coach from 2019 to 2022 before stepping into the head coach role in September 2022, following the suspension of Ime Udoka for violating team policy just days before the start of training camp for the 2022-23 season.
“This is truly a blessing,” Mazzulla stated. “I am grateful for the players I have coached over the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston.”
In Mazzulla’s first season, the Celtics went 57-25 but lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. The following season, Boston achieved a 64-18 record and defeated Dallas in the NBA Finals, making Mazzulla the youngest head coach to win an NBA championship since Bill Russell in 1969.
Last season, Boston posted a 61-21 record, securing the second seed in the East but was eliminated by New York in the second round of the playoffs.
“We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics,” said Brad Stevens, Celtics president of basketball operations. “He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that rivals our most die-hard fans. He has worked hard and achieved remarkable success in his first three years as head coach, including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA Championship. Joe is a gifted leader who consistently commits to learning, improving, and making the most of each day we compete for the Boston Celtics.”
Mazzulla’s career coaching record stands at 182-64, along with a 33-17 playoff run.
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News sports NBA 2025/26 Season To Tee-Off With Thunder Vs Rockets As Lakers Take On Warriors
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