The NBA just dropped the opening week schedule, and get this: the Golden State Warriors are kicking off their 2026-27 season against the Los Angeles Lakers. Yeah, even though LeBron James is now chowing down on Tastykakes in Philadelphia, the Lakers are still pegged as the Warriors’ biggest rival. How wild is that?
Rivalry Renewed & Must-See TV
This isn’t just any game, folks. The league is calling this a “marquee” matchup, and you know they’re not wrong. Steph Curry vs. Luka Doncic, round… well, we’ve lost count, but it’s always epic. This showdown at the Crypto.com Arena is gonna headline ESPN’s doubleheader on October 21st, the second night of the season. Talk about setting the tone! It’s the second year in a row these teams open against each other, and the fourth time in the last six seasons the Warriors start their campaign against the Lakers. Remember those playoff battles in 2022 and 2023 where the Warriors went toe-to-toe with Doncic and Austin Reaves? Always good stuff. Especially since Doncic is one of those rare guys who yells at the refs more than Draymond Green! You know that means fireworks.
Lakers’ Shake-Up vs. Warriors’ Stability
The Lakers are looking totally different this season, man. They said goodbye to some big names like LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes. That’s a huge roster shake-up! But they also brought in a fresh crew: Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Matisse Thybulle, and Cameron Carr. And get this: Kevon Looney is back with the Lakers! Our dude deserves all the hugs and daps for escaping the New Orleans Pelicans, and you know he’s gonna be cleaning up those offensive rebounds without barely jumping. There’s even a rumor floating around about them being interested in Jonathan Kuminga, which would be… interesting. But with all that turnover in LA, the Warriors should have a massive edge in continuity and veteran leadership. I’m talking Social Security accruals, folksy sayings, and maybe even a little slipperiness from Ben-Gay cream. That’s experience you can’t buy!
So, mark your calendars for October 21st, because Steph vs. Luka is going to be straight fire. After that, the Warriors are heading up Interstate 80 for their home opener on October 24th, hitting the Golden 1 Center to face the Sacramento Kings. That game will kick off the “Darius Acuff Era” for Kings fans. But first, it’s the Warriors vs. their biggest rival. You seriously don’t want to miss a second of this!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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