LeBron James is set to headline the NBA's marquee dates after joining the Philadelphia 76ers, starting with an opening night matchup against the New York Knicks followed by a Christmas Day showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers.
His 76ers debut will take place on October 20 at Madison Square Garden against the NBA champion Knicks. The game forms part of an opening night tripleheader that will see New York raise a banner to honor its first championship since 1973.
On Christmas Day, James will return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. That matchup is embedded in a five-game slate that opens in New York, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs feature in an NBA Finals rematch.
The league provided a "sneak peek" of its 2026-27 slate on Tuesday morning ahead of the full schedule release scheduled for Thursday. NBC will broadcast all three opening-night fixtures, while ESPN airs the complete five-game lineup on Christmas.
James revealed his choice to sign with Philadelphia roughly a week after Commissioner Adam Silver noted he had urged James to announce his destination. His home debut in Philadelphia is set for October 22 against Cleveland.