The full reveal of the NBA schedule didn’t used to be a spectacle which garnered much interest from Gonzaga fans. Occasionally you’d see hype for the 1-2 games per year where former Zags were pitted against each other, but at the time it wasn’t even a guarantee those players would be on the floor for much, if any, of the upcoming game.
That is far from the case currently, as multiple teams are now employing at least two different Gonzaga alumni, and for a time last year the Washington Wizards had three Zags on the roster.
The quantity of Zags in the NBA has increased significantly in the past decade, but so too has the quality. From two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, to high quality role players like Kelly Olynyk and Corey Kispert, and young exciting potential stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Suggs, the NBA season is going to feature quite a few must watch games for fans of Mark Few’s program.
Here is a look at eight matchups fans should be marking in their calendar, and what about each contest makes them appealing to Zag Nation.
(Note: Obviously roster movement can and will happen, so these games are chosen operating with the rosters we have available on August 17)
October 19, 2022: Indiana Pacers vs. Washington Wizards
Significance: Andrew Nembhard’s NBA debut
Notes: Nembhard makes his NBA debut against a Washington team featuring Corey Kispert and Rui Hachimura
Time: 4:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 10/28, 12/9, 2/11
October 19, 2022: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Significance: Chet Holmgren’s NBA debut
Key Matchup: Holmgren vs. Rudy Gobert
Time: 5:00 PM PT
October 27, 2022: Memphis Grizzlies @ Sacramento Kings
Significance: Brandon Clarke and Killian Tillie vs. Domantas Sabonis
Key Matchup: Clarke vs. Sabonis
Time: 7:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 11/22, 1/1, 1/23
November 1, 2022: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Orlando Magic
Significance: Chet Holmgren vs. Jalen Suggs (former HS teammates)
Key Matchup: Chet Holmgren vs. Paolo Banchero
Time: 4:30 PM PT
Other matchups: 1/4
November 6, 2022: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Washington Wizards
Significance: Four Zags could/will likely play (Clarke, Tillie, Kispert, Hachimura)
Key Matchup: Clarke vs. Hachimura
Time: 3:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 11/13
November 19, 2022: Orlando Magic @ Indiana Pacers
Significance: Jalen Suggs vs. Andrew Nembhard
Notes: Both starters on Gonzaga’s 2021 NCAA Championship runner-up
Time: 4:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 11/21, 1/25, 2/25
November 30, 2022: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Significance: Chet Holmgren vs. Zach Collins
Notes: Battle of the one-and-done big men
Time: 5:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 12/27, 3/12
January 20, 2023: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings
Significance: Chet Holmgren vs. Domantas Sabonis
Notes: (Arguably) two best Gonzaga players in the NBA (depending how Chet looks)
Time: 7:00 PM PT
Other matchups: 2/26, 2/28
Gonzaga’s reach at the NBA level is so expansive at this point, meaning many matchups that could feature 2-3 Zags weren’t included here. The odds of seeing four Zags on the floor at the same time are very high for this season, and in the not-too-distant future that could end up being a much more common occurrence.
Andy hosts the Locked on Zags and Locked on College Basketball podcasts, and serves Locked On in a marketing/digital content creator role as well. He lives just outside Portland with his wife Jenna and dog, Tillie.
2 thoughts on “A handy guide showing which games on the 2022-23 NBA schedule are of most interest to Gonzaga fans”