Before the banners are raised and the real games begin, the Golden State Warriors — fresh from their championship — will carry the sport across an ocean, opening their preseason in Japan against the Washington Wizards in a gesture that speaks to basketball's quiet ambition to become a truly global language. Five exhibitions in all, the schedule traces an arc from Saitama to San Francisco, from novelty to homecoming, giving a champion time to remember what it means to compete before the weight of expectation fully returns.
Warriors open 2022 preseason in Japan before hosting three Chase Center games
The Warriors' first trip to Japan for regular NBA competition
Mark
Why does it matter that the Warriors are opening in Japan? Is this just a marketing thing?
Mimi
It's partly that—the NBA wants to grow its footprint overseas. But for the Warriors specifically, it's their first time playing there, so it's a genuine milestone for the franchise. And it's the 15th and 16th NBA games ever in Japan, so it's still relatively rare.
Luke
Right, but we should be clear: these are preseason games, not regular-season games. The stakes are different. The Warriors have played eight games outside North America before, so this isn't entirely new territory for them as an organization.
Mark
Got it. So what's the actual schedule once they get home?
Mimi
Three games at Chase Center. Lakers on October 9, Trail Blazers on October 11, Nuggets on October 14. All meaningful opponents—the Nuggets are the team they just beat in the playoffs.
Luke
And the Trail Blazers added Gary Payton II, which is worth noting because it shows how the roster landscape has shifted since the playoffs.
Mark
When do fans get to buy tickets?
Mimi
Friday at 2 p.m. for the general public, but there's a presale Thursday for people who already have access.
Luke
The source doesn't specify what that presale access is—season ticket holders, probably, but we don't know for certain.
Mark
Fair. And the regular season starts when?
Mimi
That hasn't been announced yet. The Warriors said they'll release that schedule later.
The Pulse
- The reigning NBA champions will play their first-ever games in Japan on September 30 and October 1, asking West Coast fans to set alarms as early as 3 a.m. to watch live.
- The two Saitama matchups will be the 15th and 16th NBA games ever held in Japan, placing the Warriors at the center of the league's push to expand its global footprint.
- Upon returning home, Golden State faces a gauntlet of recognizable names — LeBron's Lakers, a Trail Blazers squad that poached Gary Payton II, and the Nuggets they eliminated in last spring's playoffs.
- Tickets for the three Chase Center games go on sale Friday at 2 p.m., while the regular-season schedule — and the full weight of championship defense — remains just over the horizon.
Before the banners are raised and the real games begin, the Golden State Warriors — fresh from their championship — will carry the sport across an ocean, opening their preseason in Japan against the Washington Wizards in a gesture that speaks to basketball's quiet ambition to become a truly global language. Five exhibitions in all, the schedule traces an arc from Saitama to San Francisco, from novelty to homecoming, giving a champion time to remember what it means to compete before the weight of expectation fully returns.
The Golden State Warriors announced a five-game preseason schedule Wednesday that begins with an overseas journey and ends with three nights at Chase Center. After opening training camp September 24, the defending champions will fly to Japan to face the Washington Wizards on September 30 and October 1 at Saitama Super Arena — a historic first for the franchise, though the odd tip times, as early as 3 a.m. Pacific, will test the devotion of Bay Area fans.
The two Japan contests will be the 15th and 16th NBA games ever played on Japanese soil, part of the league's ongoing effort to cultivate international audiences. It is the Warriors' first trip to Japan for NBA competition, their most recent overseas appearance having come in China five years ago.
Back in California, Golden State hosts three preseason games beginning October 9 against the Lakers, followed by the Trail Blazers on October 11 and the Nuggets on October 14 — the same Denver squad the Warriors eliminated in last April's first round on their way to the title. Tickets for the Chase Center games go on sale to the public Friday at 2 p.m., with the regular-season schedule still to come.
The Golden State Warriors announced their five-game preseason schedule Wednesday, a slate that begins with an overseas journey and concludes with three nights at home. The defending NBA champions will open training camp on September 24 at Chase Center, then depart for Japan to face the Washington Wizards in a pair of exhibition matchups on September 30 and October 1 at Saitama Super Arena. The timing will test the patience of West Coast fans—the first game tips at 3 a.m. Pacific time, while the second starts at 10 p.m.
This marks the Warriors' first trip to Japan for regular NBA competition, though the franchise has played eight games outside North America in the past, most recently in China five years ago. The two contests against Washington will be the 15th and 16th NBA games ever staged in Japan, part of the league's broader effort to grow the sport internationally. The Wizards and Warriors will be the centerpiece of what the NBA calls the Japan Games, a showcase event designed to introduce the league to Japanese audiences.
Once the Warriors return to California, they will settle into a three-game homestand at Chase Center beginning October 9. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, will be their first opponent. Three days later, on October 11, the Portland Trail Blazers arrive—a team that added depth this offseason by signing Gary Payton II in free agency. The preseason schedule concludes on October 14 against the Denver Nuggets, the same team the Warriors dispatched in the first round of the playoffs this past April on their way to winning the championship.
Tickets for the three Chase Center games will go on sale to the general public on Friday at 2 p.m., following an exclusive presale event on Thursday. The Warriors have not yet released their regular-season schedule, which will come at a later date. For now, fans can mark their calendars for these five warm-up contests that will give the team a chance to integrate new players and shake off the offseason rust before the games that count begin.
Notable Quotes
The Warriors have already played eight games outside North America, most recently in China in 2017, but this will be their first trip to Japan.— Warriors organization (via announcement)
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