One difference on this schedule release night compared to the prior two for Brooklyn Nets supporters is looking to see when the Milwaukee Bucks come in. It’s not because they want to see the second pick in this year’s Draft, Jabari Parker, but to see their coach, Jason Kidd, and likely boo him.
The most shocking story of the NBA offseason was when Kidd forced his way out of the Nets to become the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. He attempted a power play where he would remain as Nets Head Coach and become President, circumventing the power of General Mananger Billy King. When the Nets rebuffed him, he asked to talk to Milwaukee, and when his request was granted, he was as good as gone.
The Milwaukee Bucks come to the Barclays Center on November 19th. Knowing Coach Kidd, he may find a way to avoid this one, like taking the night off for “personal reasons” or trying to get a suspension. The Bucks return to Brooklyn on March 20th, and that will be some atmosphere if there are playoff implications on the line. The Nets travel to Milwaukee on February 9th and April 12th.
The Nets open the season on Wednesday, October 29th in Boston against the Celtics. They stay on the road for the Detroit Pistons on November 1st.
The home opener will be on Monday, November 3rd against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. That is the start of a four-game homestand against Minnesota on the 5th, the Knicks on the 7th, and the Magic on the 9th.
They then go to the West Coast for a three-game stretch against the Suns on November 12th, Steve Kerr and the Warriors on the 13th, and Portland on the 15th. They return home for the new-look Miami Heat on the 17th and the Bucks on the 19th.
The Nets then face a brutal back-to-back on the road, as they play in Oklahoma City on Friday, November 21st and in San Antonio the next night. They conclude the three-game road trip in Philadelphia the night before Thanksgiving.
They get three days off before starting a tough five-game stretch. On Sunday, November 30th, the Nets host the Chicago Bulls in a 3:00 pm matinee. On Tuesday, December 2nd, they go to The Garden to take on the Knicks, followed by hosting the Spurs the next night at Barclays Center. The Hawks come to Brooklyn on December 5th.
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers come to Barclays Center on December 8th. The Nets travel to Cleveland on Friday, December 19th. The Cavaliers return to Brooklyn on Friday, March 27th.
The Nets play the Knicks on December 2nd and April 1st at Madison Square Garden and November 7th and February 6th in Brooklyn.
The Nets face off with the Toronto Raptors, who they beat in a classic first round series in last year’s playoffs, on Wednesday, December 17th in Toronto; Friday, January 30th in Brooklyn; Wednesday, February 4th in Toronto; and Friday, April 3rd in Brooklyn.
The Nets take on Paul Pierce, John Wall, Bradley Beal, and the Washington Wizards in a home-and-home on Friday, January 16th in Washington and Saturday, January 17th in Brooklyn. The Nets travel to Washington on Saturday, February 7th and host the Wizards on Friday, April 10th.
Starting with the Raptors game in Brooklyn on January 30th, that in essence begins a month of February that could be make-or-break. They host the Los Angeles Clippers on February 2nd they play at LAC on Jan. 22nd) before traveling to Toronto on February 4th.
They host the Knicks on February 6th and then play in Washington the next night to start the annual eight-game circus road trip. They play in Milwaukee on February 9th and in Memphis on February 10th. They get ten days off around the All-Star Break, with their first game back on February 20th at the Los Angeles Lakers. They play in Denver on February 23rd, New Orleans on February 25th, Houston on February 27th, and Dallas on February 28th.
The Nets have a five-game homestand to open March, with Golden State coming in on March 2nd, Charlotte on March 4th, Phoenix on March 6th, Utah on March 8th and New Orleans on March 10th.
Other big games in March include: at Miami on March 11th, at Cleveland on March 18th, vs. Milwaukee on March 20th, hosting Indiana on March 21st, at Charlotte on March 25th, and a three-game homestand with Cleveland on March 27th, the LA Lakers on March 29th, and Indiana on March 31st.
April will be a challenge, starting with a game at The Garden against the Knicks on the 1st. They host the Raptors on the 3rd, followed by a home-and-home against the Hawks, in Atlanta on April 4th and in Brooklyn on April 8th. The Nets host the Wizards on April 10th and have a back-to-back with Kidd and the Bucks in Milwaukee on the 12th and hosting the Bulls on the 13th. The Nets close the regular season at home on Wednesday, April 15th against the Orlando Magic.