The NBA released its regular-season schedule for all of its teams on Monday night as excitement for a new year of basketball continues to build.
While there isn’t much expected from the rebuilding New York Knicks in 2017-18, there are still plenty of aspects to anticipate, whether it be the further development of Kristaps Porzingis or the debut of first-round pick Fran Ntilikina.
Regardless of record, one of the most basketball-hungry cities in the world will have their eyes glued to the Knicks all season.
Here is a look at some games to watch this season. For their full schedule, click here:
NYK vs. Detroit Pistons- Saturday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. (Home Opener)
The Madison Square Garden faithful will get their first chance of the new season to see their heroes live when the Knicks take on Stan Van Gundy’s Detroit Pistons.
NYK vs. Houston Rockets- Wednesday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m.
Whether or not Carmelo Anthony is still on their roster, New York’s first meeting of the season with the Houston Rockets is sure to be an interesting one.
This is the only team that Anthony is willing to waive his no-trade clause for, but the Rockets simply don’t have the pieces to get acquire the 10-time All-Star straight up. That means a third or fourth team has to be relied on to facilitate a deal in order for it to actually happen.
Either way, we could see Anthony playing alongside Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston, or he could playing against the team he’s been yearning to play for.
NYK vs. Philadelphia 76ers- Monday, Dec. 25, 12 p.m.
The Knicks have become a Christmas-Day tradition despite their mediocrity over the past two decades. But they will be kicking off the day’s festivities against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that finally looks to be emerging from the harrowing rebuild that placed them at the bottom of the NBA standings for years.
NYK @ Dallas Mavericks- Sunday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.
This game’s importance will rely on the development of 19-year-old Ntilikina, who the Knicks took with the eighth-overall pick of the 2017 draft.
With the following selection, Dallas took NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr., a prospect deemed more NBA-ready who could have a more successful future in the league. The Knicks could get a harsh, up-close-and-personal look at what might have been should Smith star upon his debut.
