The Los Angeles Lakers announced their 2016 preseason schedule, and no, the team is not going to Hawaii for training camp.
For the 2016/17 season, the Lakers will open their exhibition season with an Oct. 4 meeting with the Sacramento Kings in Anaheim and conclude with an Oct. 21 game against Phoenix Suns at the same venue, Honda Center, in Orange County.
In between, the Lakers will travel to Las Vegas for a couple games, including a Saturday night game against the Golden State Warriors in Sin City on Oct. 15. On that date, newly appointed Lakers coach Luke Walton will face his former team for the first time.
The shakiest date on the preseason schedule is an Oct. 19 trip to San Diego to face the same Warriors' team. A year ago, the Valley View Casino Center provided an old floor that could not stay dry due to an ice hockey rink underneath, so the game was called and tickets were refunded. Likely, the arena had improved its facilities since the 2015 preseason disaster.
The Lakers also host two games at Staples Center: Oct. 7 against the Denver Nuggets and Oct. 11 against the Portland Trail Blazers. LA will also play one game in Ontario at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Oct. 9. The team usually makes at least one trip to the Inland Empire during the exhibition season, and 2016 will be no different.
Lakers Announce 2016/17 Preseason schedule: 2 games in Vegas, 2 in Anaheim, 2 at Staples, 1 in Ontario & 1 in SD pic.twitter.com/ebIvrD0t6X — Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) May 6, 2016
