An absence from the playoffs and an underwhelming offseason has hit the Golden State Warriors in early revelations of the NBA schedule, with the franchise losing their spot on the opening night slate of games.
The Warriors won't be involved in the league's opening night proceedings on October 20 for just the second time in the past six years, and only Stephen Curry may have saved them from total scheduling embarrassment given they do retain their place in a marquee Christmas Day game.
Stephen Curry saves Warriors from total scheduling embarrassment
The Warriors will host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the final of a five-game slate on Christmas, with other matchups featuring the San Antonio Spurs at the New York Knicks, Miami Heat at the Boston Celtics, LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting his former team in the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It will mark the 14th-straight time Golden State will play on Christmas Day, having not missed since 2012. They claimed a 126-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks last year, but lost their previous two matchups which included a 120-114 defeat to Denver in 2023.
Home for the Holiday 🎄 pic.twitter.com/uVJF1JgUfF
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 11, 2026
While Curry's presence ensures the Warriors have retained their Christmas spot, they've been booted from the opening night slate which is headlined by James' debut for the 76ers against the reigning champion Knicks. The Detroit Pistons will head to Boston in the league's first game of the season, while the final of the three-game slate will see a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Thunder and Spurs in San Antonio.
The Warriors will instead start their regular season the following night on October 21 against the new-look Lakers who have completely rebuilt their roster this summer around star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Warriors are losing their stature with opening night snub
It's no coincidence that Golden State's only absence from the league's opening night in the previous five years came after they missed the playoffs in 2024. It's proof that the Warriors are losing their stature as a marquee team, having dominated the big matchups for over a decade thanks to Curry and their dynasty.
It's a painful reminder of what things could look like post-Curry if Golden State can't find another star to take the baton, not that fans need a reminder after a horror end to last season when the team was without Jimmy Butler and Curry for 27-straight gamess.
With Butler and young wing Moses Moody set to be sidelined through Christmas, there is genuine concern on what the Warriors' record may look like by the time they host the Nuggets on the league's biggest day of the regular season.
