Report: Lakers hosting Phoenix Suns for 2023-24 home opener

LeBron James and Kevin Durant haven’t played against each other in nearly five years. The NBA’s schedule makers did their best to ensure the drought of two of the league’s biggest stars not facing each other will end soon.

The Lakers will host Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 26 for their home opener at Crypto.com Arena, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Friday.

Both teams are also playing on the league’s Opening Day, with the Lakers traveling to Denver to play the defending champion Nuggets in a rematch of the Western Conference finals and the Suns traveling to San Francisco to play the Golden State Warriors.

If James and Durant play in the Lakers’ home opener, it’ll mark the first time they played against each other since Dec. 25, 2018, when the Lakers beat the Warriors 127-101 in a Christmas Day matchup.

The entire 2023-24 schedule is expected to be announced next week. The schedule for the new in-season tournament will be revealed at noon Tuesday on ESPN.

Three of the Lakers’ 2023-24 regular games, according to The Athletic:

Oct. 24: at Denver Nuggets (season opener)

Oct. 26: vs. Phoenix Suns (home opener)

Dec. 25: vs. Boston Celtics.