That week, Giannis Antetokounmpo will debut for the Miami Heat and LaMelo Ball will start anew with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday, October 20. NBA Schedule Release presented by… pic.twitter.com/xm6FmyJjyK — NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2026It will be a clash between two stars for two teams on two similar paths. The Heat are expected to dominate with Giannis in the mix alongside Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell. In December 2021, Giannis praised Ball for scoring 36 points and hitting eight 3-pointers, and they swapped jerseys after the game.