Luka Doncic, entering his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, revealed Monday that he is looking forward to taking the court against Stephen Curry in Wednesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
“Going against a player like that, it’s very exciting, and for the first game to open up a season, it’s going to be a great game,” Doncic said after Lakers practice, noting Curry’s constant movement and shooting range make him a challenging opponent.
Although LeBron James will miss the opener due to injury, Doncic’s matchup with Curry provides plenty of star power, even if the two All-Stars won’t guard each other directly. “I don’t know if it’s a rivalry or not, but obviously going against Steph is very exciting,” Doncic added.
Doncic impressed in the preseason, scoring 31 points on 50% shooting in a close loss to Sacramento and 25 points on 46.7% shooting at Phoenix. His scoring and playmaking have been central to the Lakers since his midseason trade from Dallas in February 2025.
Curry also showed sharp form in the preseason, including a 28-point outing in Golden State’s win over Portland. The Warriors’ two-time MVP will be a key test for Doncic as the Lakers seek to start the 2025–26 campaign strong.
The Lakers open their season with three consecutive home games, hosting Minnesota on October 24 and Sacramento on October 26, before a road matchup in Sacramento on October 26.
