The biggest signing of the NBA offseason is ready for his debut. LeBron James will reportedly make his first preseason appearance with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, according to ESPN.
James, 41, is expected to play against the Brooklyn Nets and will be joined by the rest of the 76ers’ projected starting lineup.
.@mcten reports that LeBron James will make his preseason debut for the 76ers against the Nets 🏀 pic.twitter.com/LokeIhh8hL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 8, 2026
That’s right, James will take the court alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe. Those five are unlikely to see significant time during the game, and might only play in the first half.
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While it’s just the preseason, Thursday will mark James’ first game with the 76ers since joining the team in July. James spent the previous eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, but announced in June that he would sign with a different franchise over the summer. He didn’t wait that long before making his decision, announcing he was signing with the 76ers.
That news sent shockwaves through the NBA, and caused the 76ers’ title odds to jump.
James and crew are unlikely to show out in a big way Thursday and are likely just looking to get in some conditioning in their first preseason appearance. The real magic should happen when the NBA opens its regular season.
The league planned for that, pitting the 76ers against the defending-champion New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on opening night. It’s safe to say James — and the rest of the 76ers — will be amped up for that.