NBA Schedule Sets Brown, Antetokounmpo Homecoming Games in January

Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo will play homecoming games a week apart in January, according to the NBA's 2026-27 schedule released Thursday.

The dates mark the first returns of the two former NBA Finals MVPs to the teams that traded them this summer. Brown, dealt from the Boston Celtics to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in a stunning move, will play his first game back in Boston on January 21. Antetokounmpo, who was widely expected to be traded by Milwaukee and at one point was rumored as a possible swap for Brown, was eventually dealt to Miami. The Heat will travel to face the Bucks for the first time on January 28.

Both games, on Thursday nights, will stream on Prime Video.

The schedule also confirmed other details. The season opens October 20 with a tripleheader headlined by LeBron James, Brown and the 76ers visiting the New York Knicks, who will receive championship rings for their first title since 1973. The regular season ends April 11, with All-Star weekend set for February 19-21 in Phoenix.

Every team will play on Monday, November 2, followed by an open day on Election Day, as the league leaves that Tuesday free to encourage voting participation. No teams will play on Saturday, April 10, the second-to-last day of the season, but every team will be in action on the final day, with Eastern Conference matchups in the early window and Western Conference games later that night.

Nationally televised games on ABC or NBC will rise to 90 this season, up from 79 last year. Peacock will stream Monday night games, NBC and Peacock will carry Tuesdays, ESPN will televise Wednesdays, and Prime Video will stream Fridays. ABC's Saturday night primetime package begins December 12 with the Knicks visiting the Heat, and NBC's 'Sunday Night Basketball' returns January 24 with Oklahoma City visiting Golden State. Prime Video's Thursday doubleheaders start in January, and Saturday afternoon games on the service begin February 6 with Ja Morant's return to Memphis as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.