LeBron James, Giannis, Top Stars Return Dates to Face Former Teams Revealed in NBA Schedule Release

After an offseason of major trades and free agent signings, the full NBA schedule for the 2026-27 campaign revealed when stars will return to their former homes.

One of the most notable dates is Jan. 28, when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat will face the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. LaMelo Ball will return to Charlotte with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 15, and Jaylen Brown will face the Boston Celtics on Jan. 21.

LeBron James' Los Angeles homecoming will be on Christmas Day.

Antetokounmpo's return to Milwaukee should be quite the event given all that he meant to both the city and the franchise. He spent the first 13 years of his career with the Bucks, winning a pair of MVPs, a championship and a Finals MVP.

Antetokounmpo's exit wasn't necessarily too messy, and he should receive some kind of tribute and a warm welcome from fans.

The same can be said for Brown when he returns to Boston. The 2024 Finals MVP was more than just a star on the court, as he was heavily involved in the community.

Considering Brown didn't leave on his own terms, Celtics fans should have nothing but love for their former star.

That being said, Brown will likely be treating the matchup as a bit of a revenge game. Boston decided to trade him after the best season of his career, and he has every right to want to make the Celtics pay for the trade.

While some Lakers fans might be bitter about the way James left, it was mostly a clean exit that arguably set Los Angeles up for future success. After bringing the team its first championship in the post-Kobe Bryant era, James should expect a nice greeting from his former squad.

While Tyler Herro wasn't the biggest star in the trade that sent him to Milwaukee, his return to Miami should be interesting given what transpired between him and Bam Adebayo this offseason.