Knicks host LeBron's 76ers debut on NBA opening night
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- New York Knicks will raise their championship banner on NBA opening night Oct. 20 against LeBron James and his Philadelphia 76ers debut (7 p.m. ET).
- Philadelphia 76ers were transformed by offseason acquisitions of James (41) and Jaylen Brown after a 4-0 playoff sweep by the Knicks in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals.
- The opening night NBC tripleheader includes Celtics at Pistons (3 p.m. ET) and Thunder at Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET), a Western Conference finals rematch.
- Opening week ESPN doubleheaders feature Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat debut against the Timberwolves on Oct. 21, with Warriors at Lakers the same day and Cavs at 76ers plus Nuggets at Thunder on Oct. 22.
- The Christmas Day slate on ABC/ESPN includes James facing his former Lakers, plus Spurs-Knicks, Heat-Celtics, Thunder-Wolves, and Nuggets-Warriors.
- LeBron James makes his 21st Christmas appearance in his record 24th NBA season, while the Knicks play their NBA-record 59th Christmas game dating to the league's first holiday matchup at Madison Square Garden in 1947.
- The full NBA schedule will be released Thursday.
Why it matters: Opening night immediately tests a retooled 76ers squad — built around James and Brown — against the reigning Eastern champs on their banner night, while the Christmas slate pairs James with his former Lakers for NBC/ESPN in his record 24th season.
Ask SkimNews
