NBA drops '22-23 schedule, 7 former 'Cats set to play on Christmas Day
This season, the NBA will celebrate 75 years of playing games on Christmas Day.
On Wednesday, the league announced the full 2022-23 season schedule for all 30 franchises. The regular season will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 16 with the Boston Celtics hosting the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in a primetime doubleheader.
As has been the case since Kentucky head coach John Calipari took control of the program over a decade ago, plenty of former Wildcats will suit up for an NBA team this season. Currently, 25 one-time ‘Cats are on an NBA roster with the possibility of a few more free agents (DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, to name a couple) finding homes at some point during the season. For the 75th annual slate of Christmas Day games, a total of seven former Kentucky players will take the floor.
BBNBA on Christmas Day 2022
12:00 PM EST (ESPN): 76ers (Tyrese Maxey) @ Knicks (Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle)
2:30 PM EST (ABC/ESPN): Lakers (Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel) @ Mavericks
5:00 PM EST (ABC/ESPN): Bucks @ Celtics
8:00 PM EST (ABC/ESPN): Grizzlies @ Warriors
10:30 PM EST (ESPN): Suns (Devin Booker) @ Nuggets (Jamal Murray)
As is tradition, the New York Knicks will get Christmas rolling with the first game of the day against Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers. Immanuel Quickley and Julius Randle will take the floor for the Knicks in what will be the second straight year these two have played on Christmas. Maxey, who took a major leap as a sophomore last season, will play in his first-ever Christmas Day contest.
Next up will be Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Davis will participate in his fourth Christmas Day game and second in a row. The Lakers will also feature former Wildcat forward Wenyen Gabriel, who was recently converted onto a regular contract with the franchise.
The next two games won’t feature any BBNBA connections, but I would still highly advise you catch all of the action. Milwaukee vs. Boston should be another epic showdown between last season’s Eastern Conference Finals opponents. Grizzlies vs. Warriors immediately after might end up being the most highlight-worthy matchup of the day.
But no game will be more entertaining for Kentucky fans than the nightcap between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets. Devin Booker will play in his second consecutive Christmas Day outing for the Suns while Jamal Murray expects to take the floor for the Denver Nuggets. The 25-year-old point guard hasn’t played in 18 months due to an ACL injury but is fully expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season in mid-October.
In short, it’s going to be another Kentucky-filled year in the NBA. Maxey and Davis will play on opening day while the likes of Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) and Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs), along with plenty others, help kickoff opening week.
Additionally, the NBA will continue the tradition of playing multiple games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 16. For Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the entire league will take the day off from playing games in order to encourage fans to vote. The Play-In Tournament is back too, which is scheduled for April 11-14.
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