The Warriors will play a league-tying 15 back-to-backs this season. And one of them is on Christmas Day against the Grizzlies, where Ja Morant could be back in action after his controversial offseason suspension.

Plus, ballyhooed rookie Victor Wembanyama will make his debut against the team that drafted him last year. It should be a fun one to watch.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied and popular professional sports franchises in the history of North American sport. The team has won a combined 17 Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) titles, which is tied with the Boston Celtics for most championships in NBA history.

The team became synonymous with “Showtime” in the 1980s, led by Earvin “Magic” Johnson and a rivalry with Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics that continues to this day. This era was described by Roland Lazenby as basketball’s Age of Camelot and set the stage for the current NBA dynasty-in-the-making.

This year the Lakers have 29 games on national TV, with five on ABC and 12 on TNT and ESPN. That includes a Christmas Day game against the Denver Nuggets.

2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have a rich and impressive history, including two NBA championships. They were founded in 1994 and have been a force to be reckoned with ever since. Featuring the talents of legendary players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Chris Paul, the Rockets have continued to build on their legacy.

In 2018, they made a run to the NBA Finals, but were ultimately defeated by the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series. Despite this, they remain one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Steph Curry and the Warriors will play the Rockets five times this season, with three of those matches taking place on national TV. The other four meetings will take place at Oracle Arena. This includes a Christmas Day matchup that will mark the debut of rookie Victor Wembanyama.

3. Memphis Grizzlies

After two 50-plus win seasons and a top-10 seed, the Memphis Grizzlies have high expectations for this season. The team has added depth with the additions of Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose, but the Grizzlies will need Steven Adams back to provide size in their frontcourt.

Unlike some small market teams, the Grizzlies have enough star power to draw interest from NBA fans. The two teams played on Christmas Day last year, with the Warriors winning 118-110. But outside the Memphis fanbase, the one lasting image from that game was Klay Thompson taunting Dillon Brooks on the ground.

With Ja Morant still recovering from his 25-game suspension, the Grizzlies will need to improve their halfcourt offense in order to reach their full potential this season.

4. New York Knicks

The Knicks haven’t had a winning season since 2012-2013, but they did make the playoffs in 2020-2021 and pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets in NBA history when an 8-seed defeated a 1-seed in the first round. Despite the disappointing finish, fans won’t stop supporting the team and hope for a return to glory remains high.

The New York Knicks are part of a tough East group and face the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets in November and December. In addition, the Warriors play a league-high 15 sets of back-to-backs this year.

5. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are an exciting team to watch with their fast-paced style of play and exciting players. They have a passion for entertaining their fans and strive to make a positive impact on their community both on and off the court.

After crawling through last season amidst skepticism and relative anonymity, the NBA is ensuring that the Nuggets are on its national radar this year. They have a number of nationally televised games, including a December 23 matchup with the Rockets.

This game could also serve as the debut of top pick Victor Wembanyama at Chase Center. He’s a 7-foot-5 French phenom that could shake up the frontcourt for Houston. The Nuggets and Rockets built their rosters with the purpose of beating Golden State in mind, so this matchup will be a good test for both teams.

Dive into the 2023-24 Golden State Warriors Schedule today – because every game is a chance to be part of history!