The NBA released the complete 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Thursday, placing the Los Angeles Lakers in the national spotlight from the outset. The 17-time champions will host the Golden State Warriors on Opening Night, renewing the rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
The league’s holiday showcase will send the Lakers to Houston on Dec. 25 for a matchup with the Rockets, who added Kevin Durant during the offseason. Despite their recent history, Los Angeles will not face the Dallas Mavericks on either marquee date; the first meeting between the two teams is expected in November during the Emirates NBA Cup.
Heavy National TV Presence
Los Angeles secured 34 national broadcasts—tied for the most in the NBA—highlighting interest in James’ 23rd season and the arrival of Luka Dončić, who topped league jersey sales after his move to L.A.
Road and Home Stretches
The Lakers’ longest trip spans eight straight road games from late January into early February, immediately followed by an eight-game homestand. Both stretches are the longest of their kind on this year’s league calendar.
Back-to-Backs and Travel
Head coach JJ Redick will navigate 14 sets of back-to-backs, one more than last season. Team flights are projected to cover roughly 43,000 miles, a slight drop from 44,000 a year ago.
Emirates NBA Cup Assignments
For the in-season tournament, the Lakers were drawn into West Group B with the Mavericks, L.A. Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. Each club plays four group games between Oct. 31 and Nov. 28.
The six group winners plus one wild card from each conference advance to the knockout stage. Quarterfinals are set for Dec. 9–10 in team markets, while the semifinals and final return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 13 and 16. Amazon Prime will carry all knockout contests as part of the league’s new broadcast package.
Source: LakersNation.com
