The Brooklyn Nets will have no shortage of high-level competition during the 2024-25 season. The Nets released their schedule for the upcoming campaign on Thursday, featuring an array of matchups with storied rivals, talented young teams, and championship contenders. Here are two schedule details that jump off the page right away.
1. Nets will have an early crucial crosstown matchup against Knicks
Brooklyn will face former starting forward Mikal Bridges in a crosstown matchup against the New York Knicks on Nov. 15. What gives the game even higher stakes is the fact that it is the first game of the Nets' 2024 NBA Cup schedule.
The early battle between Brooklyn and their Manhattan rivals will determine which team gains the upper hand in the Eastern Conference's Group A of Cup competition. Furthermore, the winner of the matchup will give fans of either team early bragging rights.
It will be interesting to see how the Nets fare against their old teammate Mikal Bridges, who gave Brooklyn the crucial benefit of being able to focus on developing their younger talent with his departure. Bridges was one of the focal points for the Nets' offense during the 2023-24 season, averaging a career-high 19.6 points per game. But will it be he or his old running mates that come out on top?
2. Nets will face 3 NBA champions of last 3 years within first 10 games
Brooklyn will play three teams who have been NBA champions within the last three years during the first 10 games of the 2024-25 season. First, the Nets will play the 2021 title-winning Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 27 for their home opener at Barclays Center. Two days later, they will travel to Denver to take on the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets. Then, the Nets will face the reigning champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Nov. 8.
While the Nets would love to win a championship, their focus on talent development and acquisition will likely see them put their NBA reign plans on hold. Still, the aforementioned teams Brooklyn will face within their first 10 games want to win big in 2025. Thus, the Nets will have to be focused early on to hold their own.
Brooklyn's 2024-25 schedule will surely test their physical and mental strength. It will be interesting to see how the Nets handle other elite competition as they usher in a new era.