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Golden State Warriors: NBA miss big opportunity with Christmas Day slate

By Peter O'Keefe

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 21, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 21, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Amid the first revelations surrounding the NBA schedule for next season, reports emerged that the Golden State Warriors will play on the highly-anticipated Christmas Day slate of games for an 11th-straight season.

As first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Thursday, the Warriors will head to Denver on Christmas to face the NBA champion Nuggets at Ball Arena.

The NBA have missed a big opportunity by not scheduling the Golden State Warriors against a major rival on Christmas Day.

Make no mistake, the Warriors and Nuggets does present as an incredibly appealing matchup. The pair have combined for each of the last two NBA championships, and both are projected to be in contention again next season.

Yet despite the potential rivalry that this matchup could still build into, Golden State and Denver have hardly been a noteworthy storyline in the league over recent seasons. They’ve had a few close battles over the past two seasons, but the Nuggets have largely held sway in winning six of the last seven regular season games.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on April 2, 2023. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on April 2, 2023. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Warriors held control of the teams only recent playoff series, defeating the Nuggets in five games during the first-round of the 2022 postseason. It’s not as if they have a storied history either, with that series having been just their second ever meeting in a postseason setting.

The Phoenix Suns presented as the most obvious Christmas Day matchup for the Warriors, but the NBA instead chose to place that rivalry on opening night at Chase Center. The Los Angeles Lakers could have been another option given the two teams played off in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals, along with the obvious Stephen Curry-LeBron James rivalry.

The Boston Celtics could have been another potential matchup after the teams played off in the 2022 NBA Finals. Instead, the Lakers will host the Celtics on Christmas in a battle of the league’s two most historic franchises.

Charania reports that other Christmas Day matchups will include the New York Knicks hosting the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat hosting the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Suns hosting the Dallas Mavericks.

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This feels like an understandable pre-emptive move from the NBA, with their hope that a Curry-led Warriors and a Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets are two of the top teams in the West come Christmas Day. While other opponents may have been more appetizing, the early season form of both could build this up into a huge matchup.

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