The full NBA schedule has yet to arrive, but the Sixers already know three of the biggest dates on their calendar.
Philadelphia will open the season against the defending champion New York Knicks, host the Cleveland Cavaliers in its home opener and head to Los Angeles on Christmas Day for LeBron James’ return to face the Lakers.
These games show the impact of adding LeBron and fellow star Jaylen Brown. Along with earning the NBA’s maximum allotment of national TV games this season, the Sixers will be featured in some of the league’s marquee matchups.
The Sixers will begin their season facing the division rival that swept them out of the playoffs last season, the New York Knicks. After a disheartening performance, including an invasion of their home court by Knicks fans, the Sixers were left with little reason for optimism.
That changed quickly. The Sixers transformed their roster by adding Brown and James alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid, pulling some of the national spotlight away from the defending champions in the process. With that additional firepower, Philadelphia will head to Madison Square Garden looking for revenge against the reigning champs.
The Sixers will face the Knicks in New York on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to open their season.
Like the Knicks, there’s no shortage of storylines between the Sixers and the Cavaliers. Most notably, Cleveland was among the favorites to land LeBron James in free agency this summer before he chose Philadelphia. Drafted by the Cavaliers, his hometown team, James played 11 seasons in Cleveland between two separate stints — an entire career’s worth for most players. Many expected a storybook ending for LeBron back home, but he instead chose to experience a new challenge in Philadelphia.
Aside from the LeBron James of it all, the matchup will see former Sixer James Harden once again return to Philadelphia, assuming he and the Cavaliers can eventually agree on a new deal. This will be Harden’s seventh matchup against his former team. He is currently 4-2 against the Sixers in those games.
Beyond the individual storylines, both teams are expected to contend near the top of the Eastern Conference, making this early-season matchup a potential postseason preview.
The Sixers will host the Cavaliers in Philadelphia in their home opener on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Possibly the most anticipated of the three matchups from a national perspective, the Sixers will head west on Christmas Day for LeBron’s only regular-season visit to his former home in Los Angeles. After seven seasons with the Lakers, including their first championship since 2010, LeBron should return to applause, but returns are often bittersweet.
Facing a talented squad led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and now featuring former Sixer Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia won’t be gifted a win Christmas Day; they’ll have to earn it.
LeBron James and the Sixers will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Dec. 25.
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