Suns face daunting prospect of playing same superstar four times in one month

The Phoenix Suns finally learned what their 2024-25 NBA schedule is going to look like on Thursday afternoon, with a heavy dose of nationally televised games for the franchise across Opening Week. This was preceded by the Emirates NBA Cup games being announced, with the Suns getting a somewhat favorable and pretty exciting pool draw.

The hope of course is that it is the Larry O'Brien trophy the organization will be hoisting come season's end, although the consolation prize of winning anything at all - and in Las Vegas no less - might be enough to satisfy the cravings of the longest-suffering Valley faithful.

One quirk has emerged from the schedule, and it is just how many times the Suns will see LeBron James out the gate.

This is partly of their own doing, but the Suns are going to meet James and the Los Angeles Lakers a whopping four times in the month of October. That doesn't even include the cup game between the two, which is scheduled to take place on November 26th. But how can this be?

Beginning with the own doing part, and the Suns have decided to play the Lakers twice in preseason play. The other two games coming against the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets. The latter an opponent we also know they are going to meet on Christmas Day, the unofficial beginning of the NBA season.

Seeing that much of "The King" is probably a smart move, because both teams are built in similar ways and could be jostling for position in the Western Conference later in the campaign. Better to keep your enemies close and all of that.

The Suns will then see the Lakers twice in the first four games - with a game in Dallas against the Mavericks sandwiched in between - in what will be a gruelling three games in four nights stretch for the team. That will actually tell us a lot about where this group is headed, and LeBron is always a good measuring stick to see how good you really are.

Beginning the season in Los Angeles against the Clippers - before waiting around for one night and facing the Lakers - is tough for another reason. That L.A. nightlife might be what comes between new head coach Mike Budenholzer and an impressive 2-0 run to start the season. Either way you have to admit, that's a lot of James to begin the season, with the remaining game on March 16th.