Jeremy Lin and the Brooklyn Nets come to New York's Madison Square Garden to face Derrick Rose and the Knicks for the first time in the 2016-17 season on Nov. 9.

That was just one of many highlights unveiled by the league's recent release of the complete 2016-17 regular season schedule. Lin & company open their season on Oct. 26 in Boston, followed by a tilt against the Pacers in Indiana two nights later.

The Nets host the Eastern Conference rival Detroit Pistons in their home opener on Nov. 2.

In all, Lin will lead his team into 14 back-to-back clashes, including games against Kevin Durant and Golden State and LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers starting Dec. 22.

Brooklyn also has nationally televised games against Rose and the Knicks on Nov. 9 and the Suns (Mar. 23) and Chicago (Apr. 8), both in Brooklyn.

Lin Seen as Leader

Lin signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Nets during the free agency period and rookie coach Kenny Atkinson has made little secret of his plan to build his offense around Lin's versatile skill set.

"Obviously we want him to play like he did when he was in New York for that brief stretch," Atkinson recently shared of the 11-game stretch with the Knicks where Lin averaged 24 points and nine assists. "I'd love that. What I really loved about that part is how everybody remembers the scoring, but I remember him distributing the ball and really making a lot of plays out of the pick-and-roll for other people, too."

Cavs Began Defense

The 2016-17 NBA season tips off on Oct. 25 with a nationally televised doubleheader between the Cavs and the Knicks in Cleveland, followed by the Warriors hosting the San Antonio Spurs in their first season without the retired Tim Duncan.

Such opening night star power is just a miniature snapshot of what fans can look forward to on Christmas Day when a five game slate features the Cavs hosting the Warriors, Knicks vs. Celtics, Bulls vs. Spurs, Timberwolves vs. Thunder and Lakers vs. Clippers.

The Cavs' visit Steph Curry and the rival Warriors as part of a Martin Luther King Day doubleheader on Jan. 16 that also features the Thunder vs. Clippers in Los Angeles. Durant makes his first visit to Oklahoma City since bolting for the Warriors a little more than a month later (Feb. 11). The two teams also face off in Oakland on Nov. 3.

Rookie Ben Simmons makes his NBA debut as part of an ESPN doubleheader on Oct, 26, when the Philadelphia 76ers host Russell Westbrook and the Thunder.

In the nightcap, the Lakers host James Harden and the Houston Rockets, officially marking the start of the post Kobe Bryant era.

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