ESPN has added two Los Angeles Lakers preseason games to its 2025 broadcast schedule, the network announced on Aug. 20. The Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 5 and the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 15, with both contests set to air on ESPN’s national feed.
The Oct. 5 meeting with Golden State marks Los Angeles’ second game of the preseason and could feature the first on-court appearance of stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The Oct. 15 matchup against Dallas is the Lakers’ penultimate preseason contest, a slot that often serves as a full-dress rehearsal with starters playing extended minutes.
Los Angeles enters the 2025-26 campaign tied for the league lead with 34 nationally televised regular-season games. High-profile opponents such as the Warriors, Mavericks and New York Knicks will appear across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Amazon Prime during the year.
ESPN released its full preseason lineup on social media, highlighting the Lakers’ games as marquee attractions. The network’s decision follows several seasons of intensified rivalries: multiple playoff showdowns between James and Warriors guard Stephen Curry, and a recent blockbuster trade that sent Doncic from Dallas to Los Angeles.
In addition to their preseason exposure, the Lakers are slated for prominent placement during the NBA’s Rivalry Week. The club will open an eight-game road trip with matchups against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Mavericks during that promotional stretch.
Source: Lakers Nation
