Warriors to host Lakers to open preseason

The Golden State Warriors took down the Los Angeles Lakers in the Summer League semi-finals. Now they’re opening another series of semi-meaningless exhibition games with another go-round with their Southern California rivals.

The Warriors open the preseason Oct. 6 at home with the Lakers. They’ll also welcome two other West Coast teams, the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers, with the road schedule to be announced later.

It’ll be the second preseason game for the Lakers, who will visit the Kings at the Golden1 Center one night before they hit the Chase Center, like a mini-California Classic! The Lake Show will show off their new-look team, with LeBron James gone to the Heat/76ers/Cavaliers, or making the correct decision and teaming up with Steph Curry and 2027 Rookie of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg.

Now the Lakers will feature Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Jaden Hardy, first-rounder Cameron Carr, and old favorite Kevon Looney — and probably not Bronny James, since he’ll be joining his dad on the Dubs.

It’s an exciting way to start the preseason and the highest-profile preseason game the Warriors will play, no offense to Darius Acuff, Jr. and the Kings. They’ll also see Damian Lillard showing off his repaired Achilles tendon across the Bay from his hometown and some undisclosed other opponents who probably have a lot of Southwest Airlines flights from the Bay Area to their cities.

Get excited for 12-15 minutes of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves! Preseason NBA action: It’s fan-tastic!