The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers should’ve summoned more spectators than the fewish thousand that showed up Tuesday to watch them play at T-Mobile Arena.
Then again, the NBA’s preseason isn’t exactly the real thing — and established as they are, the Warriors and Lakers aren’t exactly Las Vegas teams.
The Warriors and Lakers tuned up Tuesday with the regular season starting next week, giving locals who showed — including recording artist Flava Flav, illusionist Criss Angel and Jackie Young and Becky Hammon of the Aces — and tepidly cheered a glimpse at the league soon coming to town.
Los Angeles is a longtime scheduler of preseason basketball in Las Vegas, but its Northern California counterpart secured a 101-89 win.
Stephen Curry brought his singular sizzle with 11 points in 23 minutes — drawing cheers whenever he shot the ball. Lakers star guard Luka Doncic didn’t play, completing a spirited workout pregame to the sounds of traditional Slovenian song. Curry playing salvaged the showdown.
Lots of seats available
The upper bowl of seats at the arena was covered by curtains and devoid of fans, surprisingly, along with sections of the lower bowl. If buzz is building for hoops in Las Vegas amid the NBA’s impending expansion (and it should be, according to this impassioned, lifelong basketball enthusiast and former NBA beat writer), it’s building away from T-Mobile Arena.
At least for now.
Said Warriors guard and former Spring Valley standout Gary Payton II at shootaround, during which the arena was emptier than it was for the game, but not by much: “There’s always something going on Vegas. Another year, they’re adding something to the city, which is good.
“They’ve got every sport here but NBA basketball. Once they get the men’s here, I think it’ll complete it pretty much” with the MLB’s Athletics set also to arrive.
Former Coronado star Jaden Hardy had 10 points, two rebounds and two assists for Los Angeles in 15 minutes. Draymond Green (rest) didn’t play for Golden State.
Maybe the matchup Tuesday didn’t sell because LeBron James isn’t with the Lakers anymore and the Warriors, globally relevant with Curry, are no longer in their heyday. Curry remains among the league’s top draws and his pregame warmups catch bigger crowds in opposing arenas than the one that watched him Tuesday night.
Almost, anyway.
Waiting for the real thing
Maybe with expansion all but guaranteed, locals once juiced by the Warriors and Lakers are waiting instead to invest in the team that’ll occupy market for good. The NBA here is a novelty and typically does better at the box office as such, but it won’t be soon with expansion bids reportedly topping $12 billion.
“We fill the building up in (NBA) Summer League,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr noted during his pregame news conference. “And fill up the building for the Raiders. The Knights did really well right away and won a Stanley Cup and filled up their building. So, it seems like there’s enough fan support (for an NBA team).”
Just not the two playing Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.
“(Vegas has) built a great fan base over the years,” Payton added, posting six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 17 minutes. “Just to show how much the city has grown.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the Aces and the Knights. For them to just get another atmosphere and a feel, it’s pretty good.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
