The 76ers' First Schedule Release: Initial Reaction

Faced up against the champs

As the second game of opening night, Philly will play at 7 p.m. EST on NBC and Peacock.

The league's decision to pit the Sixers against the reigning champs on the first night of the season is indicative of the new respect the Sixers have garnered. Adding star talent to the fold has undoubtedly positioned the team in the discussion for title favorites, making a battle against the Knicks an intriguing matchup.

The Knicks lost center Mitchell Robinson over the offseason, which could hinder their ability to contain Joel Embiid and LeBron James.

The Knicks already have established chemistry coming off their championship run last season, whereas the Sixers may still be working through schemes and testing lineups. Regardless, a Sixers-Knicks showdown is a great opportunity for Philly to show how well they fare against the best team.

The 76ers will have a chance to get some early revenge after the Knicks swept them in the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Down the line, the two teams could likely meet again in the playoffs.

Christmas Day game

No Sixers-Celtics on one of the biggest days of the NBA is one of the most immediate takeaways from the schedule. Even aside from Brown's trade to Philly, the two teams had a long-standing rivalry, making the omitted matchup a missed opportunity for the NBA.

The league instead chose to make a homecoming for a different offseason acquisition – LeBron James.

LeBron will square off against his former team, the Lakers, on Christmas, marking the first and only time he will return to L.A. to see them. On paper, the new-look Sixers team outweighs the Lakers in terms of talent. While the Lakers still have Luka Doncic, the starting five is significantly deeper and more experienced on Philly's side.

The 76ers will be on the road once again for the holiday clash, as the last time the team played at home on Christmas was 2019.

The game will air at 5 p.m. EST on ABC and ESPN.