Denver Nuggets 2023 opening night opponent revealed

It’s official, the Denver Nuggets will be opening their 2023-24 NBA season against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Denver will host Los Angeles in the earlier of the two opening-night games on TNT.

The opener will serve as a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, where Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets swept LeBron James’ Lakers. James will have the chance to watch Jokic receive his championship ring, just months after threatening retirement to take the focus off of Denver’s achievement back in May.

Just minutes after the Nuggets earned their first NBA Finals ever (they made the ABA Finals in 1976), The King stole headlines by floating the idea of calling it quits.

“But we’ll see. We’ll see,” James told reporters after Game 4, per ESPN. “We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me, personally, going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”

Well, Denver will get a worthy opponent to kick off their NBA title defense and get their hopes of repeating as champions underway.

According to DraftKings sportsbook, Denver is the favorite to win the title next season with +475 odds. Right behind them are the Boston Celtics with their odds set at +500.

Denver Nuggets announce 5-game preseason schedule

Just a day prior to Charania’s report of the opening-night slate, the Denver Nuggets shared their schedule for the 2023 preseason. The schedule sees the Nuggets take on the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and LA Clippers.

Denver will play five exhibition games to gear up for their 2023-24 campaign on the following dates:

Oct. 10: At Phoenix, 8 p.m. MT

Oct. 12: At Chicago, 6 p.m. MT

Oct. 15: Chicago 7 p.m. MT

Oct. 17: at Los Angeles 8 p.m. MT

Oct 19: at Los Angeles 8 p.m. MT

Want more Nuggets? Nugg Love has you covered!