1. Sixers debut on Opening Night
- 76ers vs. Knicks — Tues., Oct. 20 (7 ET, NBC/Peacock)
James will make his Sixers debut on the opening night of the 2026-27 regular season visiting the defending champion Knicks in New York. This game will not only provide our first impression of the new-look Sixers — who also added Jaylen Brown via trade in the offseason — but it will also take place on the league’s brightest stage: Madison Square Garden. In 34 career games at MSG, James is 24-10 with averages of 28.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
2. Philly’s home opener against Cleveland
- Cavaliers vs. 76ers — Thurs., Oct. 22 (7 ET, ESPN)
Two days later, the Sixers play their home opener as Philly fans get to see James in a Sixers uniform for the first time in person. Expect a thunderous reception from the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd as this new starting five is introduced for the first time. This game has the added layer of being against the Cavaliers. As he was making his “final decision,” James considered a return to Cleveland, where he began his career in 2003 and led them to a title in 2016. In the end, he chose Philly over the potential full-circle storybook ending.
3. Playoffs rematch after seven-game series
- Celtics vs. 76ers — Tues., Nov. 10 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Over the course of James’ career, the Celtics have been both a personal and a team rival. Boston was the team that Cleveland could not overcome in 2008 and 2010, but the team James conquered in 2012 with Miami on his way to his first title. When he became a Laker, James joined the NBA’s most historic rivalry. And now, as a Sixer, he’s part of a new rivalry that has a rich history and recent matchups, including seven-game series in both the 2023 (won by Boston) and 2026 (won by Philly) playoffs.
4. Top 5 scorers of all-time collide
- 76ers vs. Rockets — Sat., Nov. 28 (8:30 ET, League Pass)
When two modern-day icons clash, it is a must-see game. That is the case when James and the Sixers visit Kevin Durant and the Rockets on Thanksgiving Weekend. It’s a matchup of two of the top-five scorers in NBA history: James enters the season No. 1 at 43,440 career points, while Durant enters at No. 5 with 32,597. That’s nearly 76,000 points between the two superstars, who are meeting for the 48th time between the regular season and playoffs. James holds a 27-20 edge in all-time head-to-head meetings.
5. An L.A. return on Christmas Day
- 76ers vs. Lakers — Fri., Dec. 25 (5 ET, ABC/ESPN)
After spending the past eight seasons with the Lakers, James returns to Los Angeles for the first time as a member of the Sixers — and he does so on Christmas Day. No player has played in more games (20) or scored more points (525) on the holiday than James, who will add to those records with his 21st Christmas Day appearance. There is another piece of history that can be made in this matchup. After becoming the first father-son duo to share the court as teammates with the Lakers, LeBron and Bronny James can be the first father and son to face each other in an NBA game.
6. A birthday fit for a King
- 76ers vs. Suns — Wed., Dec. 30 (9 ET, League Pass)
James will celebrate his 42nd birthday in Phoenix when the Sixers visit the Suns. Playing on his birthday is nothing new for James, who has averaged 31.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 38.5 minutes per game over 11 games played on his birthday. James will become only the seventh player to play an NBA game at age 42 or older, joining Dikembe Mutombo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Udonis Haslem and Vince Carter.
7. Return to Miami for AWS NBA Rivals Week
- 76ers vs. Heat — Sat., Jan. 30 (12:30 ET, ABC)
James returns to Miami — where he played four seasons, reached four NBA Finals and won two titles in 2012 and 2013 — for the first time since joining the Sixers in the offseason. Similar to Cleveland, Miami was another former team that James considered returning to as he pondered his “final decision” in free agency. This AWS NBA Rivals Week matchup will be the third meeting of the season between James and the Sixers and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat, but the first one played in South Beach.
