In an unprecedented collaboration, Internet personality Davis Dodds, an Atlanta native and lifelong fan, hosted a 24-hour Twitch livestream from State Farm Arena to announce the Atlanta Hawks' 2025-26 NBA schedule. This pioneering event, which began at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, marks the first time an NBA team has partnered with a content creator for an all-day livestreaming schedule release. Hawks CEO Steve Koonin expressed full trust in Dodds, comparing his solo presence in the vast arena to a scene from 'Home Alone.' The schedule was set to be revealed at 3:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, just over 21 hours into Dodds' stream.

Dodds, 25, boasts a significant online following with over a million YouTube subscribers, 700,000 Instagram followers, and recently achieved 10,000 Twitch subscribers. As part of the content creation group AMP, which includes Kai Cenat, Dodds had a loose agenda for the stream, allowing for spontaneous changes. Plans included recording a track with Atlanta-based rapper 2 Chainz, engaging in basketball activities like a dunk contest, and showcasing various elements of the arena. A bedroom was set up behind a basket for Dodds to sleep on stream, an idea that even made Hawks Director of Social Media Katie DuPré 'a little freaked out,' though she noted it would make for a cool story.

While Dodds largely had free rein to explore the arena, including the locker room and premium player clubs for snacks and beverages, Hawks personnel, including social media, marketing, and security teams, were also present. Food was ordered, including Chick-fil-A for breakfast, despite concession stands being closed. Dodds, known for his NBA 2K content, had prior familiarity with State Farm Arena, having rented it last year for his music video '4 U,' featuring T-Pain. The unique 24-hour stream idea originated from a deal Dodds made with his chat upon hitting 10,000 subscribers, leading him to pitch the concept to the Hawks. Koonin quickly embraced the idea, seeing it as a way to engage the next generation of fans and build generational loyalty, emphasizing Dodds' 'fun, irreverent, unique, and wildly entertaining' sensibility that aligns with the NBA.

The 2025-26 NBA schedule, officially released on Thursday, features a host of highly anticipated matchups and key dates. The regular season is set to tip off on October 21 with two marquee games: the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting Kevin Durant's new team, the Houston Rockets, and the Los Angeles Lakers welcoming Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The third edition of the Emirates NBA Cup, also known as the in-season tournament, will run from October 31 (group play) through December 16 (championship). The All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at Intuit Dome, the home of the LA Clippers.

The Christmas Day slate promises five exciting matchups on December 25: the Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets. LeBron James is poised to make his record 20th Christmas Day appearance if he plays. Nationally televised games will be plentiful, with the Thunder, Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks tied for the most at 34, followed by the Timberwolves and Rockets at 28.

Beyond opening night and the holidays, the schedule is packed with must-see reunions and rivalry rematches. Notable reunions include Kevin Durant's return to Phoenix as a Rocket, Myles Turner joining the Milwaukee Bucks to face his former Indiana Pacers, and Kristaps Porzingis returning to Boston with the Atlanta Hawks. Playoff rematches feature the NBA Finals rematch between the Thunder and Pacers, the Western Conference Finals rematch with the Timberwolves and Thunder, and the Eastern Conference Semifinals rematch pitting the Boston Celtics against the New York Knicks. A particularly spicy rivalry sees Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks visit Madison Square Garden, where Young has become a notorious villain.

The season also highlights several compelling superstar and rookie showdowns. An MVP clash will occur on February 1, 2026, when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Denver Nuggets, pitting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against Nikola Jokic. Top rookies will make their mark, with No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg facing Luka Doncic when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Dallas Mavericks, and Flagg making his NBA debut against No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama in an early-season matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. Other anticipated rookie matchups include Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama and former Rutgers teammates Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper squaring off. LeBron James will also embark on his record-breaking 23rd season in the league, with one of his last potential games in Cleveland coming in late January.

NBA teams showcased immense creativity in announcing their schedules on social media. Examples include the Atlanta Hawks' 'BASKETBALL IS COMING' campaign, the Cleveland Cavaliers' schedule reveal featuring a cute dog named @littlebluedood, the Dallas Mavericks' 'D-Live goes BACK to the Dinosaur Park' video, and the Orlando Magic's 'extremely cute schedule release' with adoptable pups. Each team adopted a unique approach, leveraging various themes and visuals to engage fans and build excitement for the upcoming season.