What Kicks Will Take the Court on 2026 NBA Opening Night?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has finally announced the six matches that'll kick off the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Although there's much to talk about in terms of basketball matchups, superstar team debuts, and championship banner-raising, it's important to not overlook just how stacked the sneaker lineup is.

From the possible on-court debut of the Nike LeBron 24 to the appearance of new Nike Basketball Player-Exclusives (P.E.s) for the likes of Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the footwear heat is ready to burn a hole on our collective memory, platforming longstanding franchises along newer ones.

In anticipation of Oct. 20, which is still 70 days away (!!!), we've put together a brief gear preview and sneaker watchlist. Keep in mind that this is pure speculation—we won't know what every key player wore for the 2026 NBA Opening Night until Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Game 1: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons

Tip-Off: 3 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

If there was any doubt over the last couple of seasons as to whose team the Boston Celtics is, the front office has made it clear: Jayson Tatum is the franchise player. Seventeen-year veteran Paul George is set to make his debut for the New England squad, but his role is that of a support player—perhaps one that meshes better with a team built around Tatum.

Both Tatum and George have their signature sneaker lines with Jordan Brand and Nike, respectively, though George's PG series is in the retro phase. As such, he could lace up the PG 1 or PG 2.5 on Opening Night. Tatum, coming back from injury, could take the occasion as an opportunity to unveil the Jordan Tatum 5, although doing so for a 3 p.m. start time doesn't have the same "oomph" as it would during prime broadcasting hours.

Footwear to Watch

• Jayson Tatum, Jordan Tatum 4 or Jordan Tatum 5
• Cade Cunningham, Special-editions of the Nike S.T. Charge
• Derrick White, Nike Sabrina 4
• Paul George, Nike PG retros

Game 2: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks

Tip-Off: 7 p.m. ET (Pre-Game Banner Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. ET) on NBC/Peacock

Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

There's no denying that LeBron James is must-watch entertainment, especially as he debuts for his fourth NBA team in his 24th professional season. The "kid from Akron" is preparing for what's already been dubbed a "Ring or Bust" season, working with his lifetime partner, Nike, to develop what should be the monumental LeBron 24.

Teammate Tyrese Maxey, with whom he's been training, is also ready to firmly cement his debut signature model—the New Balance Maxey v1. Big man Joel Embiid, the biggest question mark for the Philadelphia 76ers, could also take advantage of the newfound attention on the franchise to unveil a new Skechers Basketball shoe.

We can't forget about the New York Knicks, reigning champions of the NBA. The Knickerbockers will host a banner ceremony before their game against the 76ers—an occasion that'll surely inspire Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns to pull out exclusive pairs from the Nike Kobe, Nike Ja, and Nike G.T. lines.

Footwear to Watch

• LeBron James, Nike LeBron 23 or Nike LeBron 24
• Jalen Brunson, Exclusive colorways of the Nike Kobe 5, Nike Kobe 6, or Nike Kobe 3 Low Protros
• Jaylen Brown, 741 Rover or new 741 design
• OG Anunoby, Skechers SKX NEXUS or debut Skechers signature shoe
• Joel Embiid, Skechers SKX JE1 or new Skechers shoe
• Karl-Anthony Towns, Limited-editions of the Nike G.T. Jump 2 or a new Nike G.T. shoe

Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs

Tip-Off: 9 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX

There were many NBA fans that took to social media last season to agree with the sentiment that the 2026 Western Conference Finals were the league's "real" Finals. This crowd is surely ecstatic with the new season's Opening Night including a rematch of that series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and Victor "Wemby" Wembanyama are unquestionably the star players for their respective squads, but the remaining Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs rosters are likely looking to step up during the 2026-27 campaign to improve their team's odds of lifting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy in June 2027.

As marquee players, SGA and Wemby take up most of the sneaker spotlight between their matchups, although they both leave more questions than answers. The Converse SHAI 001 was an important milestone for the one-time NBA champion, but his Nike Basketball story begins with the new season—could this mean a Nike SHAI 001 could be teased on Opening Night? San Antonio's Frenchman has also been linked to his own Nike Wemby 1, but Oct. 20 might be too soon of a deadline to have that project ready, especially as other Nike Basketball Athletes get some shine.

Away from these two, Jalen "JDub" Williams could finally lace up his own signature sneaker, bringing some much needed attention to adidas Basketball in an NBA Opening Night that's sure to go down in history.

Footwear to Watch

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Converse SHAI 001 or Nike Basketball shoe
• Victor Wembanyama, Exclusive Nike G.T. Cut 4 or Nike Wemby 1 sample
• Jalen "JDub" Williams, adidas Harden Vol. 10 or adidas JDub shoe
• Stephon Castle, New Jordan Tatum or Air Jordan shoe
• Chet Holmgren, Nike KD 19