The time has finally come, "Dub Nation."
A restocked Golden State Warriors squad opens up its 2016-17 championship quest with a season-opening matchup Tuesday night at Oracle Arena against a veteran San Antonio Spurs team.
The highly-anticipated opener will be the first time superstar free agent Kevin Durant takes the floor alongside household names Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in a game that means something record-wise.
Aside from Durant, the Warriors also have a number of new faces to unveil. Zaza Pachulia, David West and JaVale McGee will bolster Golden State down low and fill the void left by Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli. In the backcourt, second round draft pick and point guard Patrick McCaw will look to continue his momentum from a productive preseason.
Fan favorites such as Marreese "Mo Buckets" Speights and Leandro "The Blur" Barbosa are no longer repping the blue and gold, but Warrior fans may soon start to love second-year small forward James Michael McAdoo and rookie Damian Jones once the 7-footer returns to full health.
A Bob Popovich led Spurs squad, which finished right behind the Warriors in the Western Conference standings last season, is still chalk full of veterans, but San Antonio starts a season without future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan for the first time since 1996.
Former Warrior David Lee and six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol join a Spurs lineup that still features two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard as well as trusted old-timers Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker. The only Spur scheduled to miss Tuesday's contest is three-point specialist Danny Green, who is battling a leg injury.
Sports
Away from the live basketball action, the Golden State Warriors organization will pay special tribute to TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager. More than 19,000 strong inside Oracle Arena will be decked out in a white t-shirt featuring an animated design of Sager sporting one of his customary eccentric suits. The television reporter, who is currently battling leukemia, has been providing sideline insight for over 20 years.
Tickets are still available for the Western Conference clash, but it's going to cost you at least $90 for one seat in the upper deck, according to Ticketmaster.
