NBA Schedule: Luka's Mavs to Open Season at Wemby's Spurs
Following last weekend’s basketball festivities, which included Team USA taking on Slovenia in a FIBA World Cup preparation game, as well as Dirk Nowitzki and other legends being enshrined at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, NBA reporter Marc Stein dropped an intriguing report about the opening week of the 2023-24 season schedule.
"Victor Wembanyama's first official NBA game is tentatively slated for Oct. 25, league sources say, with Wembanyama's Spurs due to play host to Dallas and Luka Doncic," Stein tweeted. "The NBA's full formal 2023-24 schedule release is expected next week."
That's right, the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs are opening up a brand new chapter in their storied in-state rivalry, as highly-touted No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama will get his NBA feet wet against four-time All-NBA First Teamer Luka Doncic.
Given that the Mavs finished higher than the Spurs did in the standings last season, paired with the fact that Doncic and Kyrie Irving have the experience edge over most Spurs players, it's questionable that the league would choose to have Dallas open up on the road. Regardless, though, this matchup will be must-see TV for not just Mavs and Spurs fans, but basketball fans in general.
The Mavs 12-3 against the Spurs in the 15 games they've played against each other since the 2019-20 season. Dallas had won seven consecutive games against San Antonio before losing last season's finale with Doncic, Irving and other key players sitting in order to secure better draft standing.
The full NBA schedule drops later today, so stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for more coverage throughout the day.
Follow Dalton Trigg on Twitter. SUBSCRIBE to Mavs Step Back on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here. Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.