The NBA’s 2026-27 season will start with a marquee matchup: the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, October 21, according to the league.
It’s a game built around star power. Stephen Curry will lead Golden State, while Luka Doncic is set to headline Los Angeles. The league announced the opener on social media.
That Lakers-Warriors meeting is only part of a busy opening week slate. The Philadelphia 76ers will face the New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat will play the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The opener carries added intrigue because it will be the Lakers’ first game without LeBron James. James left Los Angeles this offseason and signed a contract with the 76ers.
Golden State tried to bring James in, too. The Warriors reportedly made a strong push to land him this summer, hoping to pair him with Curry and Draymond Green, but the move never came together.
Los Angeles enters the new season after reaching the NBA Playoffs in 2025-26. The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in a series before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Doncic is expected to be the centerpiece going forward.
The Warriors are looking to bounce back after a tough year. Golden State finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs entirely, a rare stretch of frustration for a fan base that’s grown used to much better.
For both sides, the calendar has already pointed to one date. When the season tips off, Lakers-Warriors will be one of the first games to set the tone.
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