Milwaukee Bucks will open 2024-25 NBA season against a familiar – and reloaded – opponent

The full NBA schedule for the 2024-25 season is expected to be announced in the coming days.

But high-visibility matchups are starting to leak out.

It’s already been reported that the Milwaukee Bucks won’t be part of the NBA’s Christmas slate of games. But the Bucks will reportedly play a big matchup in their first game of the season.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bucks will start the season Oct. 23 against the 76ers in Philadelphia.

The league’s opening night is Oct. 22 and Charania reported those games will be the New York Knicks at the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bucks-76ers will be opener for third straight season

If the Bucks’ matchup sounds familiar, it is because they have played the 76ers in the first game in each of the past two seasons. Both of them were dramatic.

To kick off the 2022-23 season, the Bucks grinded their way to a 90-88 victory in Philadelphia. Then last season under new coach Adrian Griffin and newly acquired superstar Damian Lillard, Milwaukee earned a 118-117 victory at Fiserv Forum.

This season will be Doc Rivers’ first full season as head coach of the Bucks after replacing Griffin in February. Rivers was previously the coach of the 76ers.

Paul George adds firepower to 76ers alongside Joel Embiid

The 76ers and Bucks are expected to challenge the Celtics in the Eastern Conference next season. Philadelphia had a splashy off-season, signing star forward Paul George to play alongside Joel Embiid.

Milwaukee’s moves didn’t generate as many headlines, but the additions of Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Taurean Prince bolstered the Bucks depth.