The NBA has started rolling out game slates for some of its marquee days on the 2025-26 regular season schedule, and it is overwhelmingly clear from the chosen matchups so far that the league doesn’t ascribe much value to Eastern Conference teams.
Unless they’re the New York Knicks. Or Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA schedule so far speaks volumes…
Look no further than the October 21 opening-night slate as proof. Not only didn’t the Knicks make the cut, but there is no team from the East on the docket. Festivities will begin with a showdown between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.