LeBron James’ arrival in Philadelphia has already created a major buzz beyond the court, with the Philadelphia 76ers seemingly benefiting from the superstar’s presence at the box office. Ticket prices have surged, with TickPick listing nine of its 20 most expensive upcoming games as matchups featuring the revamped 76ers. The spike highlights just how much attention James has brought to the team ahead of the new season.
The biggest example comes on opening night, October 20, when the 76ers visit the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The game follows Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons earlier in the day and is expected to draw huge international interest, particularly from European NBA viewers. With James leading Philadelphia into the new campaign, tickets for the Knicks-76ers showdown are reportedly going for around $2,500, making it the most expensive opening-night game in NBA history.
LeBron James Effect Already Boosting 76ers as Ticket Demand Soars Across NBA
The NBA’s 2026-27 schedule has given fans plenty to look forward to on opening night, with Boston Celtics visiting the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET before the defending champion New York Knicks host the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will raise their championship banner and receive their rings before facing a Sixers team led by LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Tickets for the matchup have climbed to around $2,605, making it the most expensive game on opening night.
LeBron’s arrival has also transformed Philadelphia into one of the NBA’s biggest ticket attractions. According to TickPick, the 76ers feature in nine of the 10 most expensive games of the 2026-27 season. Their Christmas Day meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers, which could see LeBron face his son Bronny James, has tickets starting around $830, while the Sixers’ NBA Cup matchup against the Knicks on October 30 has a get-in price of about $539. The only game in the top 10 without Philadelphia or LeBron is Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut for Miami against Anthony Edwards.
The Sixers’ surge in popularity is not solely down to LeBron, either. Jaylen Brown joins a roster that still features Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, while second-year prospect VJ Edgecombe adds another attraction. With LeBron potentially entering his final NBA season and chasing a fifth championship, Philadelphia’s long championship drought adds even more intrigue. The Sixers are also scheduled for 34 national TV appearances, giving the franchise a significant boost both on and off the court.
76ers’ LeBron James Effect Brings Record National TV Exposure in 2026-27
The 76ers are feeling the full impact of the LeBron James effect after previously having little presence among the NBA’s most expensive games. James remains one of the league’s biggest draws, and his arrival, combined with stars such as Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, gives Philadelphia a lineup packed with proven talent and makes the team a major attraction on a nightly basis.
Philadelphia has also received a favorable schedule, tying for the NBA lead with 34 nationally televised games while having the league’s fewest back-to-back sets. That should help manage the workload of an aging James and the rest of the roster. The Sixers also won’t play a road game against a Western Conference opponent until their 21st game, with their first major West Coast trip coming on Christmas Day, adding another unusual advantage to an already favorable 2026-27 schedule.
