When Does The 2023-24 NBA Season Start? The Games to Look Out For

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal come into the 2023-2024 season with big expectations to take the Phoenix Suns far into the postseason. Fans are excited to see how this newly formed "Big Three" will play together and are hopeful that they can stay healthy to return the team to the Finals after early knockouts in the playoffs the past three seasons.

The Golden State Warriors are one of those teams that you can never rule out, no matter what kind of competition they are up against. The team is always adding legacy-level talent to their roster, and with former Suns guard Chris Paul as the latest addition this off season, they hope to build off last season's disappointing loss in the Conference Semis.

Opening night will see the rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals with the reigning champion Nuggets taking on the Lakers. On media day this year, Anthony Davis remarked that the Lakers "can't wait" to face the Nuggets; the Lakers are by no means lacking talent with Davis, Lebron James, and Austin Reeves just a few among many stars on the team.

Denver is expected to continue the momentum of their first and only championship season with Nikola Jokić ready for another dominant season.

All fans of basketball are excited to watch the top overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Victor Wembanyama, in his NBA debut season. The Spurs have set their goals high with the addition of Wembanyama, but they will quickly be tested when the Mavericks come into town.

Dallas is hopeful that Luka Doncic will have a healthy season and that he, Kyrie Irving, and the teams' transformed starting five will be able to bounce back after failing to reach the post season last year. This matchup between the Texas rivals will be a much watch.

Few teams have received as much off-season hype as the Milwaukee Bucks after the trade was finalized to send Damian Lillard to Milwaukee where he will join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpoto to likely become a team that will be hard to beat.

The 76ers are coming off of a disappointing season after losing in the first round of the playoffs. However, they certainly have the talent to be a competitive team this season if Joel Embiid, James Harden (barring a trade) and new head coach Nick Nurse can connect to help the team reach its full potential.

This matchup will pit two of the best teams in the league up against each other. Both teams are extremely familiar with each other, and there’s history—most recently with the Heat knocking out the Celtics in the 2023 Conference Finals. 

All that and more will be center stage when the defending NBA conference champions face off against the Boston Celtics, a team who has only gotten better in the offseason. The added depth comes from the signing of Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. The Heat haven’t made any big moves this offseason, but they are still full of talent, led by "Emo Jimmy" Butler, a healthy Tyler Herro, and Bam Abedayo.

The Sacramento Kings are looking for revenge against the Warriors who knocked them out in the first round of the 2023 Playoffs after a season that exceeded just about everyone's expectations.

These California rivals each have a lot to play for early on in the season as each team has high hopes for the where they will take it in 2023-2024.

We won't have to wait long to watch these two hyped-up teams go head to head. The talent will be oozing off the court in this matchup with, and though Milwaukee will be favored to win, the Heat certainly has an edge, fueled by implied tension that Butler hinted at after the Lillard trade was finalized.

The Knicks will be a fun team to watch this season as former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart team up with even more former teammates with the addition of Donte Divincenzo and Ryan Archidiacono. New York is hopeful that Julius Randle will be back to his dominant self this season in order to help the team build off of their playoff run last season that was cut short by Miami in the Conference semifinals.

The Cavaliers will also be an interesting team to follow, as they are coming off a good, but by no means standout season. With Donovan Mitchell entering his second season in Cleveland, many predict that the Cavs will be able to build off last season to be a highly competitive team that could make it far into the playoffs.