The upcoming 2024-25 NBA season will feature several notable players returning to their former teams, marking significant homecoming games that fans are eagerly anticipating.
Paul George: 76ers vs. Clippers, Nov. 6
Paul George will reunite with his former team early in the season when the Philadelphia 76ers face the Los Angeles Clippers on November 6. However, this won’t be a conventional homecoming, as George will play at the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, rather than their previous arena. After five successful seasons in Los Angeles and a lucrative four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia, this game will be an emotional moment for both George and the Clippers’ fans.
Klay Thompson: Mavericks vs. Warriors, Nov. 12
Klay Thompson will return to Golden State on November 12 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. After spending 13 years with the Warriors, where he captured four NBA championships and garnered five All-Star selections, Thompson’s departure signals the end of an era. He joins the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract. His return to Chase Center is poised to be a sentimental occasion for both Thompson and the franchise’s supporters.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Knicks vs. Timberwolves, Dec. 19
Karl-Anthony Towns will make his homecoming to Minnesota on December 19 as a member of the New York Knicks. Towns, who played nine seasons with the Timberwolves after being drafted first overall in 2015, was traded in a blockbuster deal that sent Julius Randle and others to Minnesota. This encounter is already generating buzz following preseason tensions involving DeVincenzo and Knicks’ assistant coach Rick Brunson. Just weeks after Towns’ return, Randle and DeVincenzo will also meet the Knicks’ fans again on January 17.
DeMar DeRozan: Kings vs. Bulls, Jan. 12
DeMar DeRozan, who joined the Sacramento Kings after a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls, will return to Chicago for a game on January 12. After a successful tenure in which he was an All-Star for two seasons, DeRozan’s exit follows another disappointing finish for the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. Fans are expected to give him a warm reception as he returns to the city where he left a significant impact.
Mikal Bridges: Knicks vs. Nets, Jan. 21
Mikal Bridges’ transition from the Brooklyn Nets to the New York Knicks brings him back to face his former team on January 21. Having been traded from Phoenix to Brooklyn and now to the Knicks, Bridges is reuniting with college teammates including Jalen Brunson. The rivalry will play out multiple times during the season, with the Knicks hosting the Nets in two additional matchups, making this a highly watched series of games in New York.