Lakers Schedule 2018-2019: LeBron James' First Game, Matchup With Warriors Revealed

Information is starting to trickle out regarding when, where and against whom fans will be able to see LeBron James play in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. If the latest reports are correct, we now have the details for some of the biggest dates on L.A.’s regular-season schedule.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, James and the Lakers will open up the 2018-2019 NBA season with a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 18. The news comes less than a day after The New York Times’ Marc Stein reported that Los Angeles would visit the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day.

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the Lakers will face the Warriors on Dec. 25. James has battled Golden State on Christmas Day for three straight years after meeting them in the NBA Finals. The defending champions have always played at home.

The season opener against Portland was not exactly expected. The Blazers are expected to be a playoff team after finishing as the No.3 seed in the Western Conference last season, but Portland isn’t a marquee opponent. The Blazers were swept in the first round of the 2018 playoffs and didn’t make any significant offseason additions.

James and the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the 2017-2018 regular season against the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals. When James returned to Cleveland in 2014, the team played its first contest against the New York Knicks. James’ first regular-season game as a member of the Miami Heat after his first foray into free agency came against the defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics.

The Lakers opened last season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. James lost his season openers with Miami in 2010 and Cleveland in 2014.

James averaged 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game against Portland last year. The Cavs split their two games with the Blazers as James shot 59.5 percent from the field.