When Does 2019 NBA Preseason Start? Lakers, Warriors Begin TV Schedule, Rockets, Clippers Play First

A six-month regular season, two months of playoffs and the most active offseason in sports can make it seem like the NBA season is a never-ending one. It was only a few weeks ago that many of the league’s top stars changed teams and the start of 2019 preseason is right around the corner.

The NBA released its complete exhibition schedule Wednesday. The Houston Rockets will kick off the preseason on Sept. 30 when they host the Shanghai Sharks at 8 p.m. EDT. Houston is scheduled to be back on the court in Honolulu three nights later on Oct. 3 when they face the Los Angeles Clippers in the year’s first exhibition contest featuring two NBA teams.

Houston is among the most intriguing teams this season with Russell Westbrook joining James Harden in the Rockets’ backcourt. The addition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George has made the Clippers favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals, though Leonard’s load management and George’s offseason shoulder surgeries could keep both players sidelined in Los Angeles’ first preseason game.

Anthony Davis will make his Los Angeles Lakers’ debut in the first nationally televised preseason game of 2019. L.A. will play the new-look Golden State Warriors on Oct. 5 in San Francisco. The game will start at 8 p.m. EDT on TNT.

The Lakers and Warriors will meet again on national TV when they face off on Oct. 16 on ESPN. Los Angeles traded two starters in order to pair Davis and LeBron James together.

The Warriors lost Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and DeMarcus Cousins in the offseason. Klay Thompson won’t play in 2019 as he recovers from a torn ACL. D'Angelo Russell will take his place in the starting lineup.

TNT will broadcast the year’s final preseason game when the New York Knicks host the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. EDT. Former Duke teammates Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett will go head-to-head.

Click here for the entire preseason schedule.