LeBron James follows winning 76ers debut with historic comeback against Cavaliers

LeBron James's Philadelphia career began on the defending champions' celebration night. The 76ers opened against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where the hosts received their championship rings before the game, according to Forbes.

James was 41 and beginning a record-extending 24th NBA season with his fourth team, The Japan Times reported. His first assignment in a Philadelphia jersey was an immediate test against the team that had won the 2026 title.

Ahead of the October 20 opener, CNN Brasil reported that a ticket for James's official Philadelphia debut had exceeded R$100,000. The occasion combined his arrival with the start of the NBA regular season.

Philadelphia won 106-100 on October 20, spoiling New York's title celebration, Forbes reported. James scored 14 points and supplied seven of Philadelphia's 28 assists, according to The Japan Times.

The debut also brought friction with the home crowd. Sky Sports reported heated exchanges between James and Knicks fans. The supplied coverage does not establish exactly what was said.

Attention then shifted to Philadelphia's first home game. In its October 21 report, Arab News said the Cavaliers would visit on Thursday, giving the home crowd its first look at the new team.

That October 22 game produced a much less comfortable route to victory. Philadelphia fell 29 points behind Cleveland before recovering to win 114-106, according to BBC Sport. Its October 23 report described boos turning into cheers as the 76ers completed the comeback.

Philadelphia is unbeaten through James's first two games with the team. L'Équipe described the recovery against Cleveland as the biggest comeback of his career.

The two debuts offered different kinds of success: an opening win at the champions' arena, then a home victory rescued from a deep deficit. James called the home debut "everything that I dreamed of and more", BBC Sport reported.