The full Boston Celtics schedule for the 2024-25 season has been revealed. Every game, every matchup, and every revenge date is set in stone, so fans can start marking down some big events on their calendars.
One of the most notable dates will be Jayson Tatum’s first game against head coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.
1. Celtics vs. Warriors, November 6
This summer, Tatum joined Team USA for the 2024 Olympics in hopes of helping them win a gold medal. It marked his second straight Olympic run, and the last time around, he was one of the most important guys on the team en route to their 2020 gold medal in Tokyo.
However, things went a bit differently for Tatum this offseason. Instead of being one of the team’s leading scorers, Tatum barely played for Team USA.
In fact, Kerr, who was the head coach for Team USA, benched Tatum for two of the team’s six games. And in the other four, he barely got any playing time.
The Celtics star, fresh off a championship, was glued to the bench for most of the Olympics. It’s all the basketball world could talk about for the entirety of Team USA’s run.
Tatum kept up a team-first attitude while getting benched. However, once the run was over, he reposted something to his Instagram story indicating that he would be avenged.
While Tatum may not be the type of guy to hold grudges for a long time, watching him square off against the coach who kept him on the bench during the Olympics should be a very interesting sight.
2. Celtics @ Mavericks, January 25
This revenge date will be the Dallas Mavericks hoping to get revenge against the Boston Celtics. A lot of the dates on this list will be teams and players hoping to get revenge against Boston. They were that dominant last season.
The Celtics took down the Mavs in the NBA Finals to end last season, squashing an impressive run by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Boston completely picked Dallas apart.
In addition to Irving’s history with the Celtics, Doncic is the type of guy who carries a chip on his shoulder. They will undoubtedly be circling this game on their calendars, and Boston should, too.
3. Celtics @ Lakers, January 23 (vs. Lakers on March 8)
Any time the Celtics take on the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s must-watch television, and that won’t change this year. These two are the biggest rivals in sports, and they face off two times a year.
Having LeBron James represent the purple and gold takes this matchup to another level, and his history with the Celtics is almost as rich as their history with the Lakers.
Watching the star-studded matchup go down will undoubtedly be very entertaining, especially after the two sides split their season series last year, with the Lakers winning a game without James or Anthony Davis in the lineup.
4. Celtics @ Pacers, October 30
This may not jump off the page as an important game for the Celtics, but the Indiana Pacers will definitely want to get their get-back after the Eastern Conference finals last season.
And honestly, the Celtics should be looking forward to this game, too. The Pacers played them better than any other team in the postseason, and they were one of two teams to beat them multiple times during the regular season.
The fast-paced, Tyrese Haliburton-led Pacers offense is electric to watch, and they gave Boston some serious troubles throughout the year last season. Every fan should be very excited to watch this game.
5. Celtics vs. Grizzlies, December 7
This game will be an important one for a couple of reasons, but the most notable of the bunch is Marcus Smart. If he’s healthy, it will be the first time seeing him play against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
Smart was injured last year when the Grizzlies came to town. So, while he still got to watch his tribute video from the bench, he never got to compete against his former teammates.
Add in the storyline of Xavier Tillman getting to square off against his former team, too, and this game should be one that fans of both teams are looking forward to watching.
6. Celtics vs. Knicks, October 22 (Opening Night/Ring Night)
While the Celtics may not have changed much about their roster this summer, the New York Knicks sure did. With the addition of Mikal Bridges, they are the biggest threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
New York went on an impressive playoff run last season before injuries caught up to them. Now, with Bridges in tow, they are ready to challenge Boston, and the first regular-season matchup will be very fun to see unfold, especially since the Celtics will get their rings right befoe tip-off.
7. Celtics vs. 76ers, December 25 (Christmas Day)
Like the Los Angeles Lakers, whenever the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Celtics, people care. Joel Embiid is one of the best players in the world, and now, Paul George is there, too.
The Celtics and Sixers have been rivals for decades, and while Boston has dominated the matchup in recent years, it’s still always prime-time TV when the two sides play each other, especially on the Christmas Day slate.
8. Celtics vs. Spurs, February 12
This last date could have done to the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, or another Celtics rival, but Victor Wembanyama is that good. Seeing him play the Celtics is enough to earn a spot on this list.
When Wembanyama came to TD Garden last year, the crowd that came to watch him warm up pre-game was as big as any other star in the league. Every Celtics fan should be itching at the chance to watch him play their favorite team again.
