NBA schedule 2023-24: The top rookie matchups of the season
The NBA released the 2023-24 season schedule for every team on Thursday after previously unveiling a preview of the in-season tournament earlier this week.
The regular season will tip off on Oct. 24 with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT. The Nuggets, as the defending champions, will receive their rings before the contest. Phoenix will visit Golden State in the second game.
The schedule features several highly-anticipated matchups, including the debut of No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama with the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 25. The contest against the Dallas Mavericks will air on ESPN and is one of 19 nationally-televised games for the Spurs.
Of course, the dates for some other key matchups were also unveiled in the schedule announcement on Thursday. The season will feature plenty of intrigue throughout the rookie class with players set to begin their careers in the NBA.
Here are some of the top rookie matchups for the 2023-24 season.
Note: This list is different from the top Wembanyama games.
Kris Murray vs. Keegan Murray
Date: Nov. 8
Kris Murray and the Trail Blazers will face his twin brother, Keegan, and the Kings three times this season with the first meeting taking place in Sacramento on Nov. 8.
Kris was drafted by the Trail Blazers with the 23rd pick in the NBA draft this year, just one spot ahead of the Kings. The pairing of Kris next to Keegan in Sacramento nearly came to be as the Kings reportedly wanted to take him if he was still on the board.
While we are left wondering what could have been, the two brothers will face each other for the first time in November. They will meet again on Dec. 26 and then in the final game of the regular season on April 14.
Amen Thompson vs. Ausar Thompson
Date: Jan. 1, 2024
The first unofficial matchup between Amen Thompson (Houston) and Ausar Thompson (Detroit) was scratched in the NBA Summer League after the fourth pick suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing in the contest.
The twin brothers will now have their first chance to face each other in the NBA on New Year’s Day in Houston. They will have their second and final meeting of the season air on ESPN on Jan. 12; it is their only nationally-televised game of the season.
Certainly, Amen and Ausar have the dates circled on their calendars. They are eager to play each other and are already talking trash ahead of the matchups. Amen told Bryan Kalbrosky of For the Win that he’ll dunk on Ausar first while Ausar, of course, believes he’ll do it first.
Amen: I’m almost positive it’s going to be me first. I’m actually 100% positive I’m dunking on him first. You don’t even have to ask him, actually.
Ausar: He’s never going to dunk on me in his life. But I’ll dunk on him. A rebound is going to go up and I’m an offensive rebounder and he’s going to look up.
After their first meeting was delayed, Amen and Ausar are set to face each other for the first time in January. It should be among the top highlights of the season for the rookie class.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Brandon Miller
Date: Jan. 12, 2024
The top two picks in the NBA draft will square off for the first time in the regular season on Jan. 12 in San Antonio. In fact, they will have both of their meetings one week apart with the second and final contest happening on Jan. 19.
Wembanyama and the Spurs faced Miller and the Hornets on July 7 in the NBA Summer League. Wembanyama had a bit of a mixed showing, recording nine points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists in the win. Miller had 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
Their first meeting in the regular season on Jan. 12 will certainly have more meaning than their previous matchup in summer league. By then, the two players should be settling in and have figured things out a bit more with their teams.
Scoot Henderson vs. Amen Thompson
Date: Jan. 24, 2024
Henderson and the Trail Blazers will face Thompson and the Rockets four times in the regular season beginning with their first matchup on Jan. 24 in Portland.
The contest will pit the third pick against the fourth pick in a battle of two teams that are building toward the future. They previously met in the NBA Summer League with both players showing out: Henderson had 15 points and Thompson put up 16 points.
The two players each arrive in the NBA having spent time at two of the newest professional leagues in the G League Ignite and Overtime Elite. They appear to be poised for strong rookie campaigns and should have some exciting games on the horizon, including this matchup.
Brandon Miller vs. Scoot Henderson
Date: Feb. 25, 2024
The No. 2 pick Brandon Miller and the Hornets will face the No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson and the Trail Blazers for the first time of the season on the road on Feb. 25.
Of course, the two players were in the conversation to be the second player off the board this year in the NBA draft. Henderson was long projected to be the No. 2 pick but the Hornets ultimately went with Miller after an All-American-caliber season at Alabama.
Certainly, Henderson will have this contest highlighted to prove himself against the team that passed up on him. Expect him to come out firing in that contest.
