The complete NBA schedule is yet to be released, but the league has sent some teasers out to entice the fans a bit. Those games include opening night and Christmas Day, two days that almost always feature the Lakers.
Since L.A. is one of the biggest draws in the league, it’s no surprise that they’re constantly showcased in the biggest games of the year. This has been the case for quite some time, even when the Lakers aren’t necessarily the best team in the league.
Here are a few of the games already released for the upcoming season, according to Kevin Ding of the OC Register.
Opening night is Oct. 30 against the visiting Dallas Mavericks, whose Dirk Nowitzki is losing all the championship hope that longtime pal Steve Nash now suddenly can revel in with the Lakers.
Christmas is at Staples Center against the other big-money-market marquee team, the New York Knicks.
Revenge-in-the-air showdowns await against the Western Conference favorite Thunder in Oklahoma City on Dec. 7 and March 5 and in Los Angeles on Jan. 11 and Jan. 27.
And possible NBA Finals previews loom against LeBron James on Jan. 17 at Staples and Feb. 10 to close the annually epic Grammy Awards trip (Phoenix-Minnesota-Detroit-Brooklyn-Boston-Charlotte-Miami this time).
The complete NBA schedule won’t be released until later Thursday night, but fans at least are beginning to see the upcoming season take form.
Until the season does kick off in October, fans have the Olympics, training camp and the pre-season to quench their basketball appetites.