Four Takeaways After NBA Champion Celtics Reveal 2024-25 Schedule

It’s been less than two months since the Boston Celtics steamrolled the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, captured a record-setting 18th title, and kicked back in a confetti-filled celebratory duck boat parade. Nevertheless, it’s time to get back to business and run it back with a clean slate — and a new schedule.

The Celtics unveiled their full 2024-25 regular season schedule on Thursday as the reigning champions, and their trio of 2024 Olympic gold medalists — Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White — return with a chance to repeat. Boston finished 2023-24 as the NBA’s leader in regular season wins (64), held tightly to its No. 1 seed spot in the Eastern Conference for over four months and never lost more than three times consecutively throughout the full 82-game stretch.

Despite the looming uncertainly of the upcoming ownership’s transfer of power as Wyc Grousbeck’s majority stake currently sits up for bid, the Celtics maintained their entire starting lineup this offseason; albeit at the cost of over $930 million. We know they’ll flash their 2024 championship rings in front of Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks, but here are four takeaways to consider before Opening Night on Oct. 22:

1.) Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have an Olympic revenge opportunity in November
USA Basketball might’ve brought home its 27th gold medal, but that feat came at the price of making a few enemies in Tatum and Brown — (mostly) courtesy of head coach Steve Kerr. First, Team USA snubbed Brown from a roster spot when Kawhi Leonard withdrew from participating, only to replace the reigning Finals MVP with Celtics teammate Derrick White. Then, the USA Basketball disrespect turned up a notch when Kerr benched Tatum twice, including a DNP during the quarterfinals against Brazil.

“It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing,” Kerr said in defense of the questionable rotational choices, per Sam Quinn of CBS Sports. “It’s just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin has filled in since he came back from his injury. It’s just a math problem more than anything.”

Tatum and Brown will meet Kerr and the Warriors on Nov. 6 — at TD Garden — and then again on Jan. 20. The last time both teams met, Boston bulldozed Golden State, 140-88, on a night where Stephen Curry didn’t drain a single 3-pointer.

2.) The NBA is extremely optimistic about rookie Bronny James
The Celtics and Lakers will cross paths twice — on Jan. 23 and March 8 — but Los Angeles landed more nationally televised games (39) than Boston (34).

Granted, the Lakers, too, are an iconic brand like the Celtics, but all the hype and attention flocking toward Staples Center banks on Bronny James, son of LeBron James, being a serviceable addition to the organization; even though the nepotism scheme that brought the father-son duo together is a bootlegged version of Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. Pending the unlikely outcome of the younger James exceeding his rookie expectations bestowed by first-year head coach JJ Redick, Los Angeles could very well log another non-competitive, early-playoff exit season.

The team’s offseason certainly wasn’t an encouraging start.

3.) The Celtics could provide Boston with an early Christmas gift before battling the Sixers at TD Garden
NBA commisioner Adam Silver introduced the In-Season Tournament last season, which became an instant success in accomplishing its intended purpose: giving fans a reason to watch relatively meaningless early-season matchups.

Now referred to as the NBA Cup, this season’s upcoming tournament will provide the Celtics with a chance to snatch some midseason hardware months ahead of the playoffs. Boston already knew its Group (C) schedule as the league slated the Celtics for four matchups with the Cavaliers, Bulls and Wizards. But the 2024-25 schedule, too, revealed the start of the NBA Cup’s quarterfinal (Dec. 10), semifinal (Dec. 14) and championship (Dec. 17) rounds.

4.) Boston will be surprisingly busy on the West Coast throughout January
Once the 2025 fireworks sprinkle in the air on New Year’s Day, the Celtics will have only 24 hours of rest before facing Western Conference teams — the Timberwolves, Rockets, Thunder, Nuggets, Kings and Pelicans — for six consecutive games. It’s not the most welcome back to the work office, but one Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla will likely embrace with open arms nonetheless.

From there, Boston faces Eastern Conference competition — the Raptors, Magic, Hawks and Bulls — just four times. As for the remaining six games the Celtics are slated to play in January? All against teams in the West — Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks, Rockets and Pelicans — including five on the road before turning the page to February/