With great success comes great responsibility — at least as far as the NBA is concerned.
With the NBA, it’s easy to discern who they view as prominent franchises or prominent players. It’s called the national spotlight. In an era, however, when every game is national, the only way to truly standout out? Having that spotlight shine on prominent nights. It was a given that would happen when LeBron James was here. Christmas Day belonged to him and his team, for example.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been given a great responsibility as far as the league is concerned. They will feature prominently in national coverage as the season opens in October through the first half of the season. It will be up to them to keep it shining bright after.
In addition to the previously announced Christmas Day game against the New York Knicks at noon, the Cavs will lead ESPN’s opening night doubleheader against the aforementioned Knicks at 7 p.m., Oct. 22.
But Peacock and NBC have chosen the Cavs to lead-off their season and “Peacock NBA Monday,” as part of a doubleheader where they will travel to play the Detroit Pistons.
They will be part of the first ever Martin Luther King Jr. Day NBA quadruple-header as well. Defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder will play at Rocket Arena against the Cavs for a 2:30 matchup.
The schedule makers are showing the team some well-earned respect after a stellar regular season in 2024-25.
When is the 2025-26 NBA schedule being released?
The rest of the NBA schedule will be revealed Thursday, Aug. 14.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Are the Cleveland Cavaliers ready for their closeup? ESPN, Peacock put them in spotlight
Reporting by George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
