The 2023 NBA opening night schedule for the 2023-24 season has been released, and it will feature four of the best teams in the Western Conference on October 24th. The defending champions Denver Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference Finals rematch, while the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors face off, per report by Shams Charania.
Additionally, No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama is ready for his official debut for the San Antonio Spurs on October 25th against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, according to Marc Stein.
Nikola Jokic missed being MVP last season, but he got a reward when he led the Nuggets to their first title in franchise history, and was named Finals MVP. On opening night, he will get his first ring, and witness the banner raised to the rafters of Ball Arena with all his teammates. Then he will play to defeat the Lakers again after booting them off the playoffs last season.
Although, Jokic will not care much for all the glamour of ring night, it will still be a special moment for him, the team, and Denver. The Nuggets have existed since 1967, and have never had someone like Jokic or won a championship before last season. This will provide an opportunity for them to celebrate this accomplishment again before beginning their title defense.
The other match, will largely center around veteran point guard Chris Paul. After three season at Phoenix, Paul was traded to the Washington Wizards this summer in the Bradley Beal blockbuster, then later joined the Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole. This matchup will be both a debut with the Warriors and a first shot at revenge on the Suns.
No matter, the 2023 NBA opening night will be a chance for both teams to indicate where they stand in the West after shorter playoff runs than they may have hoped and big offseason changes. Can Phoenix hmake the perimeter-heavy trio of Kevin Dutant, Devin Booker and Beal with limited depth? And how will the Warrios, intergrate Paul as they wish to cling to contender status.
Another interest thing about the 2023 NBA opening night is that no Eastern Conference team will be featured. The defending champion is always in action, but the league usually splits the event up with one marquee game for every conference.
Maybe the uncertainity following the defending East champions, the Miami Heat, is responsible for this. If they had gotten Damian Lillard, then they’ll surely they’ll be shown, but this has not happened yet, and the NBA does not seem excited about how the whole thing is playing out. Howver, it is still strange that no East team will be making an appearance.
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