Author: rb809rb

As LeBron James prepares to become the first player to ever play a 24th NBA season, he’s doing so with a new team after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent last month.

After winning four titles and creating countless must-see moments while playing for the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers, the NBA’s all-time leader in points and games played will begin to write a new chapter in his unprecedented career.

Here are 10 can’t-miss games as LeBron begins his first season in Philly, listed in chronological order:

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1. Sixers debut on Opening Night

James will make his Sixers debut on the opening night of the 2026-27 regular season visiting the defending champion Knicks in New York. This game will not only provide our first impression of the new-look Sixers — who also added Jaylen Brown via trade in the offseason — but it will also take place on the league’s brightest stage: Madison Square Garden. In 34 career games at MSG, James is 24-10 with averages of 28.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

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2. Philly’s home opener against Cleveland

• Cavaliers vs. 76ers — Thurs., Oct. 22 (7 ET, ESPN)

Two days later, the Sixers play their home opener as Philly fans get to see James in a Sixers uniform for the first time in person. Expect a thunderous reception from the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd as this new starting five is introduced for the first time. This game has the added layer of being against the Cavaliers. As he was making his “final decision,” James considered a return to Cleveland, where he began his career in 2003 and led them to a title in 2016. In the end, he chose Philly over the potential full-circle storybook ending.

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3. Playoffs rematch after seven-game series

Over the course of James’ career, the Celtics have been both a personal and a team rival. Boston was the team that Cleveland could not overcome in 2008 and 2010, but the team James conquered in 2012 with Miami on his way to his first title. When he became a Laker, James joined the NBA’s most historic rivalry. And now, as a Sixer, he’s part of a new rivalry that has a rich history and recent matchups, including seven-game series in both the 2023 (won by Boston) and 2026 (won by Philly) playoffs.

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4. Top 5 scorers of all-time collide

When two modern-day icons clash, it is a must-see game. That is the case when James and the Sixers visit Kevin Durant and the Rockets on Thanksgiving Weekend. It’s a matchup of two of the top-five scorers in NBA history: James enters the season No. 1 at 43,440 career points, while Durant enters at No. 5 with 32,597. That’s nearly 76,000 points between the two superstars, who are meeting for the 48th time between the regular season and playoffs. James holds a 27-20 edge in all-time head-to-head meetings.

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5. An L.A. return on Christmas Day

After spending the past eight seasons with the Lakers, James returns to Los Angeles for the first time as a member of the Sixers — and he does so on Christmas Day. No player has played in more games (20) or scored more points (525) on the holiday than James, who will add to those records with his 21st Christmas Day appearance. There is another piece of history that can be made in this matchup. After becoming the first father-son duo to share the court as teammates with the Lakers, LeBron and Bronny James can be the first father and son to face each other in an NBA game.

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6. A birthday fit for a King

James will celebrate his 42nd birthday in Phoenix when the Sixers visit the Suns. Playing on his birthday is nothing new for James, who has averaged 31.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 38.5 minutes per game over 11 games played on his birthday. James will become only the seventh player to play an NBA game at age 42 or older, joining Dikembe Mutombo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Udonis Haslem and Vince Carter.

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7. Return to Miami for AWS NBA Rivals Week

James returns to Miami — where he played four seasons, reached four NBA Finals and won two titles in 2012 and 2013 — for the first time since joining the Sixers in the offseason. Similar to Cleveland, Miami was another former team that James considered returning to as he pondered his “final decision” in free agency. This AWS NBA Rivals Week matchup will be the third meeting of the season between James and the Sixers and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat, but the first one played in South Beach.

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8. LeBron vs. Steph, Chapter 57

This is another icon vs. icon matchup as James and the Sixers visit Steph Curry and the Warriors for the first of two meetings this season, both taking place within a single week. James and Curry have faced each other in 56 total games between the regular season (27; James leads 14-13), playoffs (28; Curry leads 17-11) and play-in (1; James leads 1-0). While there was buzz about James joining forces with Curry, Draymond Green and company in the offseason, the final decision came down to Philly, Cleveland and Miami.

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9. Three-time MVPs clash in Denver

Only nine players in NBA history have won at least three Kia MVP awards. The only two active players on that list — James (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013) and Nikola Jokić (2021, 2022 and 2024) — meet for the final time in the regular season in this Mile High City matchup. These two basketball savants each rank in the top five on the all-time triple-doubles list entering this season: Jokić second at 198, LeBron fifth at 125. Seeing these two masters at work against one another is must-see TV.

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10. LeBron’s regular-season finale

Philadelphia’s regular-season finale against Charlotte has the potential to be James’ final regular-season game. While he signed a two-year deal with the Sixers, the second year is a player option, which leaves the door open to a potential conclusion of one of the greatest careers in the history of all of sports.

When James announced his decision to join the Sixers, he said he initially thought his final game with the Lakers — a loss to OKC in the Western Conference Semifinals — was going to be the end of the road.

“I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game,” James wrote. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

Whether this is the last season or not, be sure to catch as many of these James games as possible. We almost certainly will not see a career like this again.

Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg is good at exceeding expectations.

The top prospect from the 2024 high school class, and arguably the greatest player ever from his home state of Maine, Flagg arrived at Duke with sky-high potential. And he delivered, in the stat sheet and the win column, as he won National College Player of the Year and helped lead Duke to the ACC title and a Final Four run.

The expectations continued to grow after the Mavs selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 forward delivered again with steady, season-long dominance, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists and winning Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. 

If the past predicts the future, then Flagg is poised for a must-see sophomore NBA season with new coach Dusty May at the helm of Dallas, Kyrie Irving back from injury, and No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. in the frontcourt. 

Here are 10 key games to circle on the calendar for Flagg during the 2026-27 season.

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1. Season debut vs. Rockets & KD

The action tips off for Flagg and the Mavericks with a matchup against Kevin Durant and the in-state rival Houston Rockets. Flagg averaged 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in four games last season against Durant, who praised Flagg and predicted he will be “considered one of the best of all-time.”

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2. Home opener vs. Spurs & Wemby

After the season debut in Houston, the Mavericks host their home opener against another Texas rival – the San Antonio Spurs. Flagg faces off against the 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, who tallied 31.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in four wins against Flagg last season. Flagg averaged 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the losses, and will look to secure his first win against Wemby in the home opener. 

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3. National TV clash against OKC

The two-time reigning MVP storms into Dallas during Week 2 as the Thunder face off against the Mavericks in Flagg’s first national TV game of the season. Last season, on Oct. 27, Flagg posted his lowest-scoring game of the season against OKC with 2 points in 31 minutes. Almost exactly one year later, Flagg hopes to flip the script against SGA and OKC under the national TV spotlight. 

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4. Emirates NBA Cup Group Play begins

Flagg and the Mavs tip off the Emirates NBA Cup with another early-season matchup against Durant and the Rockets. The Mavs are looking for a stronger showing in the NBA Cup in 2026 after posting a 1-3 record during Group Play last season. This Group Play matchup will be the second of four games between the division rivals in 2026-27.

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5. No. 1 picks battle in San Antonio

Every Flagg vs. Wemby matchup should be circled on your calendar. This Week 3 matchup will be the second clash of the season between the former No. 1 picks. They meet again on Feb. 9 in Dallas (8 ET, NBC/Peacock) and March 19 in San Antonio (8 ET, NBA League Pass).

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6. Return to the Northeast

Flagg, whose hometown of Newport, Maine, is about 3 hours away from Boston, grew up a Celtics fan and he will have the chance to shine on the parquet court in November. Last season in Boston, Flagg scored 16 points with eight rebounds and six assists in a 20-point loss. This game will also be a return to Boston for Kyrie Irving. 

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7. Flagg at Madison Square Garden

What’s a bigger challenge than facing the defending champs? Facing them under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden. Flagg tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists for a win in New York last season. This will be the first matchup between the Mavs and Knicks, with the second clash scheduled for Thurs., March 4 (9:30 ET, Prime Video).

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8. Duke homecoming in Charlotte

A return to North Carolina isn’t just a Duke homecoming for Flagg. It’s also the chance for him to clash against his former Duke teammate (and roommate) Kon Knueppel, who finished second behind Flagg in the 2025 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year chase. This matchup in Charlotte will be the second time the sophomore standouts face off during the 2026-27 season. The first matchup will take place in Dallas on Jan. 19 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock).

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9. The King visits on Presidents’ Day

Flagg and the Mavs will host LeBron James and the star-studded Sixers for a midday matchup during the first-ever Presidents’ Day quadrupleheader. When LeBron entered the league in 2003, Flagg was still three years away from being born. Last season, Flagg made a good first impression on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, with LeBron saying, “I love what he’s doing. I love what he’s bringing to this franchise.”

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10. No. 1 picks battle in Dallas

Flagg will face off against another young star on March 11 when the Mavericks battle 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards. This will be the first matchup between Flagg and Dybantsa, who were both ranked No. 1 in their high school classes. In addition to Dybantsa, Flagg will also have the chance to go up against Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 picks in 2012 and 2018.

Leah Wilcox was introduced to basketball with a bang.  

A playful tussle with her basketball-obsessed older brother Raymond when she tried to change the TV channel sparked her curiosity about the game he loved. It was the 1970 NBA Finals, won by the hometown New York Knicks, that helped shape her future. 

The series ignited a lifelong passion for the game, one Wilcox nurtured in the basketball-rich environment of New York City in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. She spent countless hours at legendary summer league venues like West 4th Street, Rucker Park, City College, and I.S. 8 in Queens.  

“I would attend all the games, so that was my buildup to the sport,” Wilcox says.  

Now in her 41st season at the NBA, it began an extraordinary journey for Wilcox, the current Vice President, Commissioner’s Office Liaison, on her way to the 2026 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. Aside from Enshrinement, it is the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s highest honor.  

“Few people in the NBA are as universally beloved and respected as Leah Wilcox,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says. “Leah’s impact on the league goes far beyond any single role or responsibility. She has helped shape the very fabric of the NBA community through her ability to build genuine, lasting relationships with generations of players and their families, who have relied on her over the years for advice, mentorship and a steady source of wisdom and reassurance. I cherish my relationship with Leah and continue to marvel at the way she touches so many lives.”  

As Director and then Vice President of Player and Talent Relations, Wilcox was the first African American female vice president at the league office. In that role, she worked closely with players and their families, helping them acclimate to the NBA.  

“When I hear the name Leah Wilcox, I think about transition,” Hall of Famer and Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA co-host Shaquille O’Neal says. “Not for me, but for my family. She and my mother became very close. She explained to my mother what life would be like for an NBA mom of a superstar.  

“Leah was always there for my mom, was always there for me, and she made my transition easy. You see stuff from the outside, but you don’t know until you get here. So being the number one pick, being highly touted—[Leah would say], ‘Yes… No… Shouldn’t say that, Shaquille… Don’t wear the rope chain in this interview… Wear a suit and tie.’”  

He adds: “She gave me the CliffsNotes on how to act as a professional athlete, and she gave my mother the CliffsNotes on how to be a professional mom [of an athlete]. Without Leah, I don’t get recognized as fast. She was that voice you always respected and listened to. She was like a first mentor to me and my family.”  

Charles Barkley, who also went from a Hall of Fame career to Emmy-winning broadcaster on Inside the NBA, echoed those sentiments in a tribute to Wilcox that aired on the show.  

“You know, when you first get to the NBA, it’s a shock to your system. Money, fame, and all that stuff that goes with it. She has been like a Mom to all of us for all of these years. She’s been there through the good times, the great times, the bad times, the stupid times, where I’ve done stuff. I love her with everything I’ve got.”  

Wilcox started her NBA career after a high school internship at RKO General Inc. That led her to working with legendary WRKS broadcaster Ken Webb in developing the Kiss Cards, the station’s community-oriented basketball team that was a rival to WBLS’ Sure Shots. Wilcox worked tirelessly behind the scenes in various roles to ensure the Cards’ success.  

But she felt pulled toward the NBA, fueled by both her love for the sport and a defining moment at the 1983 All-Star Game.  

“Marvin Gaye sang the national anthem,” Wilcox recalls. “And I said, ‘I need to be at that event.’ My ultimate dream would be to work in the NBA. And I didn’t even know what that meant.”  

Persistence, relationships, and a chance conversation turned into being hired as a Unit Coordinator at NBA Entertainment, a division focused on expanding the league’s reach through archival and original content. That led to the development of the groundbreaking NBC show NBA Inside Stuff, co-hosted by Ahmad Rashad and Willow Bay.  

It aired on NBC from 1990–2002, moved to ABC from 2002–06 and later returned on NBA TV from 2013 until its final season in 2018. In the pre-social media era, it provided an intimate view of NBA players that the public had never seen before. By showcasing their charitable endeavors, hobbies and personalities, the Saturday morning show became must-see viewing for a generation of NBA fans.  

In 2024, NBA Inside Stuff was awarded the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award.  

Wilcox was at the center of it. She helped secure the talent and provide insight into players’ hobbies, interests and off-court pastimes, whether it was taking Hall of Fame player Dikembe Mutombo bowling for the first time, or following New York Knicks icon and Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing Christmas shopping at FAO Schwarz.  

“On Inside Stuff, we had guests no one else could get,” Rashad says. “We’d be sitting there and Leah would say, ‘I got ’em.’ Next thing you know, they’re in the office, ready to shoot. It’s about teamwork, getting something done and putting that show together. There was no show quite like that on television, and Leah was a superstar.”  

Wilcox has also played a role in mentoring the next generation of sports executives. Kori Davis Porter, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, has worked for the NBA for more than three decades. Wilcox encouraged her aspirations as a college student looking for a role in the sports industry, then worked side by side with her as a producer on Inside Stuff.  

“I looked at her as an inspiration,” Davis Porter says. “At the time, not just as the first Black female vice president, but I saw her as a strong woman leading in the space on the only magazine show profiling players and their stories. Leah was somebody that we worked with daily on good story ideas for the players and to keep us abreast of all the exciting events that were happening. We really looked to her as a lead on the players we should profile and the stories that we should do. I could have never predicted [when I was in college] that I’d be her coworker.”  

Forging relationships with the music and entertainment industry helped Inside Stuff expand beyond the league. In the ‘80s, hip hop was fast becoming a global phenomenon, and the NBA was on a similar trajectory. The two entities, along with film and TV, converged on Inside Stuff and Wilcox was the connective thread between them.  

“When MTV was first getting started and they were looking to get into the NBA, they wanted to bring the camera crews in with Downtown Julie Brown and everyone,” Detroit Pistons star and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas recalls. “Leah was right there with us making sure that everything was done right. And not only was NBA Entertainment launched but MTV was launched also, so it was good times.”  

Her influence extended to NBA All-Star Weekend, which included securing talent for initiatives including the Stay in School Jam, Team Up and Read to Achieve. And true to her reputation as a facilitator with strong relationships in the entertainment community, she provided them with special experiences, too. Wilcox not only booked Grammy Award-winning singer Brandy to perform for the Stay in School Jam at the 1995 NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, but she also helped plan her 16th birthday party that happened the same weekend.  

“Leah was the main person telling you what to do, where to go,” says Chrissy Murray, the former Vice President of Media and Artist Relations for Atlantic Records. “She knew everybody and effortlessly, seamlessly, ushered us around the whole weekend until we were comfortable.”  

Celebrity fans who attended games were no match for Wilcox’s warm demeanor, access to NBA-branded merchandise and shared love of the game. She bonded with Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta over team affinities during the Lakers’ Showtime era. That helped her convince Washington to host and narrate the NBA at 50 special.  

“They didn’t have courtside seats then,” she laughs. “They used to sit near the tunnel at the Forum. I’d be rooting for the opponent and they would yell at me, which I thought was great, because now we have dialogue!”  

Even for an icon like Michael Jordan, Wilcox was able to make a difference. She once surprised Jordan with his sister, Roslyn, who flew in to support him while he was shooting the Michael Jordan’s Playground documentary in 1991.  

Wilcox also helped establish the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players Inc. and Fathers & Men of Professional Basketball Players Inc., organizations that began as support networks and evolved into charitable groups.  

“When I met Leah, she was so full of energy,” says Flora Allen-Hopson, the mother of Hall of Famer Ray Allen. “It was like, I’ve known her forever, because she comes in with so much energy and hype and this big ole smile, you know? Once she meets you, she never leaves you. She was the glue that held us together.”  

As Wilcox’s influence grew, so did the league’s approach to player support. She was influential in the NBA expanding its role in developing its players off the court. Now, each team in the league has its own player development department.  

“Everything that I seemed to initiate, I watch how my colleagues take it to the next level,” she says. “It was a wonderful opportunity to help fill the gap between the league, the players, and the entertainment industry. And now when I see the fusion of music and game highlights, I know Inside Stuff and the NBA Entertainment producers are a template for that.”  

Her career has also made her a witness to some of the league’s most defining moments.  

“When you talk about The Dream Team I, II, and III—I was there. I was at the 1998 NBA Finals with the Chicago Bulls, and I got to see the Knicks win the 2026 NBA Finals,” Wilcox says. “I feel like a female version of Forrest Gump. I was there for it all.”  

For her contributions to the league, she was named to the Sports Illustrated list of 101 Most Influential African Americans in Sports in 2003. Wilcox currently serves on the Board as Vice President of the NBA Players Legacy Fund.  

In recent years, Wilcox has focused on connecting retired players to resources and advocating for their health. Her work with the National Basketball Retired Players Association’s Cardiac Health Screening initiatives has helped save lives, addressing a critical issue among former basketball players who are disproportionately impacted by heart issues.  

“I’ve cried when we’ve lost so many players in 2015,” Wilcox says. “It hurts. But it helps to know we’re making a difference.”  

Among her many accomplishments, she is most proud of being a mother. Her daughter, Millisa, is a Social Media Manager at Universal Epic Universe, reflecting the same values of connection and service.  

Despite the recognition, Wilcox remains grounded in what has guided her all along.  

“We’re built to serve,” she says. “It’s in our DNA. I don’t see anyone as a stranger. I treat everyone equally. It doesn’t matter. Whether you’re the gentleman working the front desk, a member of the office cleaning crew or a senior league executive, we’re all in this together. Kindness goes a long way!”  

She adds, “I enjoy watching people’s reaction to this league. Something I’m extremely blessed to be a part of. Even after 40-plus years, when I walk into the office, I still get excited as though it’s my first day. I’m greeted by the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Jerry West logo man and the energy of my coworkers. How lucky am I? I was a unique individual placed here by God, in a unique position, nine months after my mother died. And now I am receiving the prestigious John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. Who knew? God knew.” 

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This story originally appeared in the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame program. 

Tonya Pendleton is an accomplished journalist, cultural critic and early contributor to Slam, ESPN and Jordan Magazines whose multimedia career has spanned the gamut from sports, news and entertainment.