The Cleveland Cavaliers will open the 2016-17 season at home against the New York Knicks, while the Golden State Warriors will open at home against the San Antonio Spurs.
The city of Cleveland has been celebrating nonstop since the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors back in June. The championship parade brought over one million people to celebrate in downtown Cleveland, and those fans will get a chance to keep the excitement going when the team opens the 2016-17 season at home.
The Cavaliers will open the season against the New York Knicks, according to Hardwood Paroxysm on Twitter.
LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and the rest of the team will get their championship rings in front of Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks, who defeated the Cavaliers in James’ first game back in Cleveland in 2014. But while that first matchup was filled with anxiety and anticipation, there is much less pressure this time around.
This schedule announcement goes along with the great news for Cleveland fans that James has officially re-signed with the team, although he was never expected to actually leave again.
The Cavaliers can now begin preparing the defense of Cleveland’s first professional sports title since 1964 now that James is officially back and signed to a contract
The Golden State Warriors will be trying to avenge the Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers and will begin their season at home against the San Antonio Spurs. Fans will get a first look at Kevin Durant in a Warriors uniform, which is sure to be an odd sight that will take some time to become normal.
The Warriors lost Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes, but the addition of Durant is perhaps one of the greatest upgrades for a team coming off a Finals loss in NBA history. They will get the chance to take on the Cavaliers on Christmas Day, according to several schedule leak reports.