3 storylines to watch as Suns face Warriors to open NBA season

The NBA dropped a morsel of information about the 2023-24 season on Thursday afternoon, with news that opening night on October 24th would feature the Phoenix Suns facing the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers playing the Denver Nuggets.

Two matchups that certainly excite, with the Lakers and Nuggets a repeat of last season’s Western Conference Finals, and the links between the Suns and Warriors obvious at this point. Fans of Eastern Conference teams like the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat can feel aggrieved however, that they won’t be taking part in the curtain raiser.

The game between the Suns and the Warriors, which takes place in San Francisco, is going to be appointment television, for a host of reasons.

While many feel the title window of the Warriors is beginning to close, the Suns propped theirs up for years to come yet this offseason by adding Bradley Beal, as well as a whole host of help to shore up their rotation.

The Nuggets may be the defending champions, and the Lakers have had a nice summer themselves in how they’ve recruited. But this is a chance for the Suns and Warriors to both lay down a marker in a Western Conference that is going to be as competitive as ever at the top of the standings.

3. The return of Durant to The Bay

The relationship between Durant and the Warriors is now — mostly fine. Despite winning two championships with the franchise, and being named finals MVP on both occasions as well, Durant left the organization under a dark cloud. One that was caused in large part by an argument with Draymond Green that the whole world saw.

Nowadays Durant and Green can be seen enjoying some FIBA summer ball together, and it is all water under the bridge. But given how Durant also tore his achilles in the 2019 finals and was never seen there again in their uniform, this is the perfect opportunity for him to show his former team what they’re missing.

On the other side is point guard Stephen Curry, the superstar who never minded sharing the spotlight, and was totally fine with Durant winning those finals MVPs instead of him. Only this has always been Curry’s city, and he knows it. The fact he isn’t vocal about it, shows just how comfortable he is as the face of the Warriors. A position that has never been under threat.

But you can be sure he is going to come out and give Durant both barrels on opening night. To the point where Durant may guard him on certain possessions, just to prove a point. Durant’s career detour to the Brooklyn Nets was a strange one, but he has found himself on another Western Conference superpower, ready to finish out his prime battling the team he won it all with.

2. The Chris Paul revenge tour

It was a stunning start to the offseason for the Suns, when they somehow managed to get Beal in return for Chris Paul. The “Point God” was never going to stick around with the Washington Wizards though, not at 38-years-old. The fact he wound up on the Warriors? Crazy.

This is going to have to be seen to be believed, as Paul was a pain in the side of the Warriors throughout their run to four championships. It is also likely there are some bumps in the road here too, because the idea of Paul sharing a court with Curry and Klay Thompson is weird at best.

If there is one outcome in this unexpected alliance you can bet on confidently though, it is that Paul comes out looking 10 years younger on opening night. He will be hurt by the way the Suns dumped him in favor of Beal, even if in his heart he knows the reasons why owner Mat Ishbia did it. Nothing personal, just a chance to add an All-Star eight years Paul’s junior in Beal.

It is unclear yet if Paul will start or come off the bench, although you have to imagine he will be checking into games, perhaps even as a sixth man. If that is the case, look for Paul to torch members of the Suns’ second unit, just to send a message. A young player like Bol Bol he could feast on live on national television.

1. Playoff intensity from game one

There is no doubt these two organizations see this opening contest as a statement game. All of the ingredients are there for this to be a classic. The return of Durant and Paul to face their respective teams obviously, but it goes so much further than that on national television.

This will be Frank Vogel’s first proper game as head coach, so look for him to make a splash defensively. All of the talk has been about how good the Suns can be offensively, and where they will struggle defensively with the top-heavy roster they have. Vogel will be looking to change the narrative quickly.

Center Deandre Ayton is another who will come in with plenty to prove, and perhaps being used in a new way under Vogel and his coaching staff. This is a huge year for the 25-year-old, and there’s no better place to assert your dominance than in front of millions of people against the defining franchise of the last decade.

Added spice comes in the form of Thompson’s recent comments on The Podcast P with Paul George, where he said that he regretted his four rings celebration aimed at Devin Booker. That beef appears to be quashed (for now), but you can bet Booker is going to come out flying to show that last season’s playoffs were the next step in his evolution.

This game is going to have playoff intensity right from the jump, with two healthy groups who both think they can win a championship this season going hell for leather in trying to beat the other. There may have been other matchups that made sense to start the season, but no two teams are going to give fans their money’s worth like the Suns going up against the Warriors.