The NBA released its full regular-season schedule on Thursday, setting the stage for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026-27 campaign under new leadership. The Lakers open the season on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena, marking the first time the league’s most decorated franchise will play without LeBron James, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. James will return to Los Angeles on Christmas Day for a nationally televised game at 2 p.m. on ABC, the first of two matchups between the teams this season.
The Lakers will have the most nationally televised games in the NBA this season with 34, including high-profile games such as the season opener and the Christmas Day rematch. The schedule also features a demanding start, with the Lakers playing 13 games in the first four weeks, including three back-to-back sets. The team’s 14 back-to-backs include eight that require travel, with two involving time-zone changes: a Dec. 18 game in Minnesota followed by a Dec. 19 game in Denver, and a Jan. 2 game in Chicago before traveling to Toronto on Jan. 3.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins offered his assessment of the Lakers’ roster, which now centers on Luka Doncic as the unquestioned leader following James’ departure. Perkins described the Lakers as having one of the best offensive teams in the league, citing Doncic’s elite scoring ability and the team’s depth. He ranked the Lakers as the fifth-best team in the Western Conference “on paper”, placing Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, and Minnesota ahead of them. Perkins emphasized that the Lakers’ championship expectations remain unchanged despite the roster transition. “It will still be the same standard, meaning that it's championship or bust,” he said. “The official era of Luka Doncic has officially started.”
The Lakers’ schedule reflects their status as a marquee franchise, with 34 nationally televised games highlighting key matchups beyond the season opener and Christmas Day reunion. The Christmas game will be the 21st time James plays on the holiday in his 24-season career, while the Lakers will play their 28th consecutive game on Dec. 25. The Lakers and 76ers will meet twice more, on March 4 in Philadelphia and a fourth game yet to be scheduled. The league also scheduled a Jan. 28 game in Milwaukee as Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to the Bucks, and a Jan. 21 rematch between Jaylen Brown and the Celtics in Boston, where Brown now plays for the 76ers.
The Pistons will face an early test when they travel to Philadelphia on Oct. 25, a game that pits Cade Cunningham against LeBron James in a matchup between the 2025-26 Eastern Conference’s best record and a team now featuring a four-time NBA champion. The game is part of a broader narrative around James’ move to the East, which also includes his return to Los Angeles and the 76ers’ elevated profile with him in the lineup. The Pistons, who earned the East’s best record last season, will look to prove their 2025-26 success was not a fluke against a star-studded 76ers team.
The NBA’s schedule also sets up other high-profile reunions, including Damian Lillard’s return to Portland and Antetokounmpo’s first visit to Milwaukee as a member of the Miami Heat. These games, spread throughout the season, underscore the league’s emphasis on marquee matchups and player movement as key storylines for 2026-27. The Lakers’ transition to a new era without James, paired with their high-profile schedule, positions the franchise as a focal point for the upcoming season.