LeBron James will make his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers on opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season, facing the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET and is the first of three scheduled games for the league's opening night.
The NBA season will officially commence earlier in the day with the Boston Celtics playing the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, followed by the Knicks-76ers contest, and concluding with the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The Knicks-76ers matchup is a rematch of the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Knicks swept the 76ers in four games. The Knicks are retaining much of their championship core, with the notable exception of backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Celtics.
The 76ers, however, have undergone significant changes. In addition to acquiring James, the team also traded for former Celtics star Jaylen Brown. Brown was acquired for Paul George, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick, and two second-round picks.
With the additions of Brown and James, the 76ers' likely starting lineup features VJ Edgecomb, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. This new-look lineup will immediately face the challenge of defeating the reigning champions on their home court.