Chet Holmgren vs. Paolo Banchero among 10 OKC Thunder games we're most looking forward to
The NBA tried to hype its schedule release on Wednesday, but there’s not a lot of mystery in an 82-game slate.
Every Western Conference team plays every Eastern Conference team twice — once at home and once on the road for a total of 30 games. Divisional opponents — the Jazz, Nuggets, Trail Blazers and Timberwolves for the Thunder — meet four times for a total of 16 games. The Thunder’s remaining 36 games are against non-divisional teams in the West. The Thunder will play some of those teams four times, and others only three times.
So the NBA’s schedule reveal is not a matter of if, but when, and on what channel?
The Thunder’s 2022-23 slate features a fascinating season opener, one marquee national TV game and, per usual, a home game on New Year’s Eve.
Here are the 10 games we’re most looking forward to:
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No. 10: Dec. 31 vs. Philadelphia
A home game on New Year’s Eve is a long-running tradition. Happy New Year, Chet Holmgren. You get to guard Joel Embiid.
The Sixers reloaded this offseason by bringing in some of James Harden’s old Houston pals in P.J. Tucker and Danuel House. Harden is probably the second-most booed visitor to OKC. Patrick Beverley proudly wears the crown of Thunder enemy No. 1.
No. 9: Dec. 17 vs. Memphis
Ja Morant vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and another Steven Adams homecoming game.
Memphis, in a lot of ways, is where OKC wants to get to. The Grizzlies are a small-market team that has a superstar in Morant and a strong supporting cast in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. That’s the best young core in the Western Conference.
No. 8: March 16 at Toronto
SGA is Canada’s best basketball player. It’s only right that Raptors fans are dreaming up ways to bring him home. And then there’s Lu Dort, of course, from Montreal.
The Thunder’s Canadian connections run deep, which makes this one of the most fun games on the calendar.
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No. 7: Feb. 4 vs. Houston
The Thunder and Rockets are on a similar rebuilding timeline, and the two teams just picked back-to-back in the draft. The Thunder took Holmgren at No. 2 and the Rockets picked Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 3.
Smith was the projected No. 1 pick, but after the Magic took Paolo Banchero instead, the Thunder didn’t think twice when choosing between Holmgren and Smith. Was that the right decision? We certainly won’t know by Feb. 4.
No. 6: March 1 vs. LA Lakers
LeBron James will be 38 by then. Time is running out to see the GOAT (arguable, I know) in person. This will be the Lakers’ only trip to OKC.
Will Russell Westbrook still be wearing the purple and gold? Will Anthony Davis be healthy and playing at an All-NBA level? Will former Sooner Austin Reaves still be a feel-good story in Lakerland?
No. 5: Nov. 13 at New York
Sleep in on Sunday morning, grab some coffee, whip up some breakfast and tune in to an 11 a.m. Thunder game at Madison Square Garden. There’s something nostalgic about Sunday matinees.
Looking for a basketball bucket list trip? Watch the Thunder play at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, and then take the four-hour train ride north to Boston to see the Thunder and Celtics play Monday night on the iconic parquet floor at TD Garden.
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No. 4: Jan. 30 vs. Golden State
Get to Paycom Center early, Thunder fans. Stephen Curry’s pregame routine is a thing of art.
After that, settle in and watch the young Thunder play the defending champs. OKC will be looking for its first win against Golden State since 2019.
No. 3: Oct. 23 vs. Minnesota
Home openers are always exciting, and this one will be a rematch of the season opener. It’ll be interesting to see how both teams adjust from the first meeting.
Which player will get the biggest roar from Thunder fans in pregame introductions? My guess is Gilgeous-Alexander, perhaps by a decibel or two over Holmgren — assuming the rookie cracks the starting five.
No. 2: Nov. 1 vs. Orlando
TNT will be in town to broadcast Banchero vs. Holmgren — the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Thunder went all of last season without playing on TNT or ESPN, so there should be a buzz in the arena for this one.
You don’t often see rebuilding teams in marquee television slots.
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No. 1: Oct. 19 at Minnesota
Who knows if this was intentional or not (likely not considering it isn’t nationally televised), but I’d like to tip my cap to the NBA’s schedule makers. Holmgren, barring something unforeseen, will make his NBA debut in his hometown of Minneapolis. It’s a story-book start for what could be a storied career.
It’ll quite literally be a huge first test for Holmgren. The Timberwolves supersized this summer by trading for longtime Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who will man the center spot in Minnesota next to frontcourt mate Karl-Anthony Towns.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chet Holmgren vs. Paolo Banchero among must-watch Thunder games
