According to ESPN's Shams Charania's preview report on August 10th, the new season will officially kick off on October 22nd, with the Houston Rockets facing the Oklahoma City Thunder. This game will not only be the season opener but also the Thunder's championship ring presentation ceremony, a highly anticipated and highly anticipated event.

The Rockets made drastic roster adjustments during the offseason, the most notable of which was a large-scale trade involving multiple teams. The team traded Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and welcomed strong players such as Kevin Durant, Finney -Smith, and veteran center Capela.

This series of moves, according to media and industry insiders, significantly boosted the Rockets' immediate effectiveness, making them a strong contender for the championship. Last season, the Rockets finished second in the Western Conference regular season, while the Thunder finished first in the league and ultimately won the championship. The league's decision to arrange a head-to-head matchup between these two teams in the opening game undoubtedly heightened buzz surrounding the new season.

On the same day, another key matchup will kick off in Los Angeles, with the Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors. This matchup remains a long-awaited spectacle for fans, with the James-Curry showdown still the main attraction. However, unlike previous seasons, the Lakers' leader has been replaced by Luka Dončić, who will form a core partnership with James and lead the Lakers to even greater heights. The Warriors, on the other hand, have yet to make any significant additions during the offseason, primarily due to the lack of substantive progress in contract extension negotiations with Jonathan Kuminga.

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, the two opening games mark not only the start of the season but also the first test of the effectiveness of each team's offseason operations. Whether it's the clash between the Rockets and Thunder or the reunion of the Lakers and Warriors, the early season promises to be a feast for fans.