The NBA schedule for the 2024-2025 season has been officially released and all games are scheduled through next April.

The Hawks open the season at home against the Brooklyn Nets on October 23rd and this should be a good game for the Hawks. Brooklyn is considered one of the worst teams in the league and this is a great opportunity for the Hawks to start the year with a win.

Other key dates for Atlanta include a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 2 (Dejounte Murray’s first game back in Atlanta), a New Year’s Day game in Denver against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, and a game against the Knicks on MLK Day in January. Atlanta will not host a game on MLK Day and will instead travel to New York to face the Knicks.

The Hawks will have only two nationally televised games this season, both games against the Spurs. One will be broadcast on TNT and the other on ESPN. Atlanta’s games will also be broadcast six times on NBATV.

Here are the five games I have my eye on for the Hawks’ upcoming season.

1. against Brooklyn, October 23 (1st game of the year)

While the Nets aren’t the most glamorous team to open a season against, it’s a home game and the first chance to see the new Atlanta team. Players like Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels will be making their Hawks debuts in front of a home crowd.

2. vs. New Orleans, December 2 (Dejounte Murray’s return to Atlanta)

This was an easy decision. After being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, Dejounte Murray will be returning to Atlanta fairly soon in the NBA season. On Monday, December 2, Murray will return to Atlanta for the first time to play against the Hawks. Atlanta will play New Orleans on the road.

3. In New York, January 20 (MLK ​​Day Game)

I’ll start by saying that it’s terrible that the NBA didn’t grant the Hawks a home game on MLK Day and that the Hawks should play this game at home like they have done for the past few years, but this is an interesting game on its merits alone as the Knicks are set to be one of the big contenders in the Eastern Conference this season.

4. against Boston, November 4 (First meeting with the Celtics)

Boston is the favorite to defend its title, and the Hawks will see plenty of them early in the season, as both are in the same NBA Cup bracket. This will be the first opportunity to see the Hawks face the defending champions (who will be without Kristaps Porzingis early in the year).

5. Six away games, 29.12.-9.1. (longest away tour of the year)

I’m cheating a little here, but I always pay attention to when the Hawks are on the road for extended periods of time during the season, and this is their longest road trip. They start in Toronto, then head to Denver, Los Angeles to play the Lakers and Clippers, Utah, and finish in Phoenix.