Yahoo Sports Staff Updated Tue, October 20, 2026 at 10:10 PM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story The NBA's opening day continues Tuesday evening as the new-look Philadelphia 76ers and defending NBA champion New York Knicks take the court at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. ET.
The game will mark two big-time debuts for Philadelphia, as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown take the court for their first regular-season game with the franchise. James was the league's greatest free-agency prize, reportedly signing a team-friendly two-year, $8 million deal this offseason. The Sixers acquired Brown from the Celtics , sending Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks for the five-time All-Star. He and James will now join a star-studded lineup alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
The Knicks have some business to attend to before the game — raising the banner following the franchise's first NBA championship in 53 years , won by beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. The team lost some depth after center Mitchell Robinson signed with the Celtics in free agency. But with Jalen Brunson and extension-eligible Karl-Anthony Towns at the center of it all, New York remains projected near the top of the league following one of the most dominant playoff runs in league history.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the 76ers and Knicks face off on opening night, airing on NBC and Peacock.
The NBA season gets underway Tuesday, and the evening will be highlighted by the New York Knicks celebrating their 2025-26 championship.
An NBA title banner will be raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 1973 as Jalen Brunson and Co. begin their attempt to become the first back-to-back champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
It will be LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers looking to spoil the night. If you want to be in the building to see history, you're going to have to shell out.
According to Gametime , the current get-in price for a ticket is $2,087, the most expensive NBA regular-season ticket on record . Between the banner raising and LeBron's first game with the Sixers, there will be a lot going on at MSG on Tuesday night.
LeBron James spoke for the first time Monday in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform but revealed that he initially had dreams of playing for the franchise's heated rival.
James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin at 76ers media day Monday that he had "visions" of joining the New York Knicks but that he "couldn't do it" after they won the NBA title last season.
"I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden," James said, per McMenamin. "One of the best places I've ever played.
"I think it's the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San Antonio , I was like, 'Hey, I can't.' I couldn't do it."
James cited anticipated media backlash over joining a title team as his specific reason for ruling the Knicks out.
"Y'all wouldn't have let me lay that down, at all," James said, per McMenamin.
Source: Sports
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