Grueling opening stretch among top takeaways for Knicks’ 2024-25 schedule

It’s Christmas for basketball fans in August.

The NBA released the full 2024-25 schedule Thursday.

Here are five takeaways on the Knicks’ slate: 

A challenging start 

The schedule makers did the Knicks no favors early on.

Seven of their first 10 games are on the road, starting with opening night against the defending champion Celtics on Oct. 22.

It includes a four-game, four-city road trip that starts in Miami against the Heat on Oct. 30 and wraps up in Atlanta against the Hawks on Nov. 6.

In all, of the 10 teams the Knicks face to start the season, only two are teams that didn’t reach the postseason last year.

Not easy at all.

Throw in the fact that three key Knicks — Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle — are coming off surgery, and a slow start seems possible. 

Reunions 

The Knicks will see old friend Isaiah Hartenstein on Jan. 3 in Oklahoma City, and he will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome when the Thunder come to the Garden a week later.

It may be bittersweet if Mitchell Robinson is unable to stay healthy.

The Knicks don’t have a true backup center.

New Knick Mikal Bridges will reunite with his old Nets teammates in back-to-back games at MSG on Nov. 15 and 17 and return to Barclays Center on Jan. 21.

Don’t expect Bridges to receive a harsh greeting — the arena will likely be full of Knicks fans. 

January at home 

The Knicks have a soft month of January that will mostly be played at the Garden.

Of their 15 games, 11 will be there, highlighted by a five-game homestand from Jan. 6-13 against the Magic, Raptors, Thunder, Bucks and Pistons.

After a two-game trip to Oklahoma City and Chicago on Jan. 3-4, they won’t leave the Northeast the rest of January. 

Daunting post-All-Star stretch 

From Feb. 21 through Mar. 17, the Knicks have 10 games against teams in the playoffs last year.

There is a five-game West Coast trip featuring games against the Lakers, Warriors and Kings and visits to Cleveland, Boston and Memphis, as well.

When the Knicks are home, they have to contend with the 76ers and Heat. 

National spotlight 

The Knicks have a whopping 34 games on national television — 10 apiece on TNT, ESPN and NBA TV, as well as four more on ABC.

They had 25 last year. The Lakers have the most with 39, followed by the Warriors’ 36, while the Celtics are tied with the Knicks with 34.