The 2023–24 NBA calendar is yet unknown, however we do know what the Opening Night slate will be. The Golden State Warriors being a part of it should not be at all surprising.
The new season will begin on Tuesday, October 24, with a doubleheader on TNT, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. Additionally, the Phoenix Suns will play the Warriors.
Oh, my, oh. Surely that is juicy.
Aside from the turmoil, the Suns and Warriors should put on a fantastic show. With two MVP candidates and a total of eight players who have been All-Stars within the last two seasons, they are projected to be two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
But drama is also present. Chris Paul, a 12-time All-Star and the Warriors’ biggest offseason acquisition, will play the team he just finished a three-year stint with on his first day as a Warrior. In addition, he’ll compete against Bradley Beal, the All-Star for whom the Suns traded him.
Even if Kevin Durant hasn’t been racking up victories with the Warriors in a while, it still makes a difference when he takes the court against them, especially given how frequently the media has recently brought up their on-again, off-again relationship. In addition, assuming Durant is well (which we all hope he is), Opening Night will be the first time he plays at Chase Center in front of spectators owing to injuries, trades, and the pandemic.
Additionally, there is the tepid rivalry between Devin Booker and Klay Thompson, which both players have thrown cold water on recently and during the current season. Although you shouldn’t hope for anything to come of it, seeing those two sharpshooters square off is entertaining.
In addition, Steph Curry will face off against Damion Lee, his brother-in-law and former colleague, while Dario ‘ari’ gets to begin his vengeance tour against the squad that gave up on him midway through the season. All the while, the Suns attempt to integrate Beal into an offense that already boasts two ball-dominant, perimeter-focused offensive juggernauts, while the Warriors have their first chance to add Paul to a team that already has a terrific point guard.
This will be enjoyable.
The four teams that most people anticipate to be at the top of the Western Conference are included in the two-game Opening Day schedule, which suggests that the NBA is currently enamored with the Western Conference. The other matchup pits LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers against Nikola Joki’s Denver Nuggets in a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals. The reigning champion Nuggets will raise their banner and present their rings at home as is traditional.
Leave a Reply