LOS ANGELES — A return set for a king.
While the Lakers won’t tip off on opening night (Oct. 20) for the first time since the 2018-19 season, the NBA did announce a stamp-it-on-your calendar Christmas Day matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James in a sneak-peak preview of the regular season schedule – marking the return of the 42-year-old star after he elected to leave the Lakers in free agency for the City of Brotherly Love in July.
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The Lakers and 76ers will tip off at 2 p.m. on ABC and ESPN in what could be the first-ever game with a father and son facing off on opposing teams. Guard Bronny James remains on the Lakers after his contract turned fully guaranteed during the offseason following his increased rotational role during the 2025-26 season.
The full NBA schedule will be released on Thursday.
While the Lakers are not set to play on opening night, they’ll tip off one day later on Oct. 21 when they host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
At the NBA Summer League in early July, commissioner Adam Silver talked about waiting on James’ decision for where he’d play his league-record 24th season, as it would impact the league’s impending schedule announcement.
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On July 24, James chose to join Philadelphia on a two-year veteran’s minimum contract, setting the stage for the 2026-27 season.
The early schedule release, which took place on the ABC morning television talk show Good Morning America, revealed that James and the 76ers will open their season in primetime by playing the defending-champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Two days later, the 76ers will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 22 in James’ first home game in Philadelphia.
Other notable matchups on opening night include the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons matching up, while the nightcap on NBC and Peacock will be a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs will visit the Knicks on Christmas Day for an NBA Finals rematch.
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