Are you telling me the season doesn't start until October?

The NBA schedule release is upon us, reminding us how far we still have to go.

Waiting by the Window; Carl Holsoe; Late 1800s

The NBA schedule release is upon us, reminding us how far we still have to go.

Good morning. It's Free Newsletter Wednesday. Let's basketball.

The NBA is dribbling out its 2026-27 schedule this week. On Tuesday came opening week and Christmas Day. On Wednesday they will release the full NBA Cup schedule. The rest is coming on Thursday.

Opening night is now opening day, features a matinee game and does not lead off with the reigning champs raising a banner.

Celtics at Pistons at 3 PM Eastern to tip off the regular season, followed by Sixers at Knicks at 7 PM with the banner going up and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 PM to close it out. Great set of games. I'm really happy that the NBA made sure Ariel Hukporti could be there to get his championship ring in short order.

The national TV games on the other days that week:

WEDNESDAY: Timberwolves at Heat and Warriors at Lakers on ESPN
THURSDAY: Cavaliers at Sixers and Nuggets at Thunder on ESPN
FRIDAY: Knicks at Celtics and Rockets at Spurs on Prime Video

Great games, good variety. Only one Warriors game and one Lakers game on national T.V. that whole week is telling as to what the league thinks the draw will be for those historically high-draw teams. Or the NBA knows those teams draw and are working to ensure more teams outside of the Knicks and Spurs will also draw. Wolves-Heat and Celtics-Pistons are plays in that direction.

Here's the Christmas line-up.

Here's the situation: when I forecast the Christmas lineup a few weeks ago, I nailed all 10 teams that would play (what, like it was hard?) but zero of the actual games! Impressive. I thought the league would lean on established rivalries like Thunder-Spurs, Nuggets-Wolves and Lakers-Warriors. Opening the day with the Spurs' return to Madison Square Garden is a Mike Breen ass BANG of a decision. Giannis vs. Hugo, LeBron's return to L.A., Ant vs. Shai in Minnesota (the Thunder and Spurs going on the road on Christmas, ouch), sad recent champs in the nightcap: wow across the board. Oops, all wows. Great lineup, can't wait.

So far, so good for the NBA schedule. The rise of the Knicks, Spurs and Sixers On Paper is infusing some new life already.

What are the teams I hope the NBA puts on some national T.V. games outside the bright lights of opening week and Christmas?

PACERS. I'm a little shocked there's no Indiana in opening week on national T.V. Maybe on Saturday? The Pacers damn near won the championship in 2025 and Are Back.
Wizards. Rehabilitating Trae Young's reputation as an exciting player to watch and introducing the fandom to A.J. Dybantsa seems important.
Jazz. High potential for beautiful or at least mighty interesting basketball with actual intent to win games plus Darryn Peterson joining Keyonte George and Ace Bailey in the backcourt rotation.
Blazers. I still don't really get the backcourt situation but Dame Lillard playing in a Portland jersey is going to make me smile all the same. Plus, the West Coast time zone teams need some extra juice with the Warriors and Clippers sliding down.
Raptors. Toronto, even at its peak, has never been a national T.V. priority. But assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through, it seems like one helluva team to watch on a regular basis.

More News from NBA Owners in Deep S--t

Mat Ishbia's mortgage company just got bailed out by a private equity firm and appears to be heading in the wrong direction, broadly speaking. Based on the reporting from Hunterbrook Media as well as the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, Ishbia has leveraged the mortgage giant United Wholesale Mortgage enough to give up partial control of the board and require billions in infusions. Some of the leverage UWM is being weighed down under? Loans Ishbia took out to buy the Phoenix Suns. Welp!

I am not nearly qualified enough to unravel all this, but it would appear that Ishbia has been milking UWM since he led its explosion in size, and he is making some goofy bets that is putting the company's position in the industry and future at risk. Based on Ishbia's leadership with the Suns since arriving, color me unsurprised.

Giveaway Time!

Thank you to the 30 (!) subscribers who entered our giveaway by Remembering An ACC Basketball Guy to win a copy of Turfman's College Foot-ball Almanac 2026. The winning comments have been replied to with instructions on collecting your prize. The random number generator resulted in the following ACC legends being celebrated.

There was '80s era UNC captain Joe Wolf, who passed away last year after a long career as a player and coach. We had a strong level of Georgia Tech representation, with Dennis "Great" Scott getting a spot.

But most importantly, and I swear I did not cook the books: one of the several people who said "Juan Dixon" was selected by the random number generator.