LeBron James is set for another Cleveland reunion, and this one opens a new chapter. The Cavaliers will face him on Nov. 6 when he makes his first home appearance as a member of the 76ers, with Cleveland also serving as the season-opener. James has dealt with some preseason injuries, but he expects to be on the floor to start the 2026-27 campaign.
That matchup adds another entry to a long list of Cavs-James moments, including two memorable first games against his former team. The first came after his 2010 move to Miami, when the return carried enormous weight.
Dan Gilbert had already posted his summer letter declaring the Cavs would win a title before the Heat, and the city was filled with burned #23 jerseys. The atmosphere was as hostile as it gets.
James answered all of it the same way he usually did: by taking over. In front of a Cleveland crowd like nothing the city had seen before, he carved up his old team for 36 points, five rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes, shooting 15-for-25 and finishing at plus-26. Anthony Parker and Joey Graham had no answer for him, and Miami walked away with the clearest possible proof that the Heat had upgraded by adding the league’s best player.
He met Cleveland 13 times while with Miami and owned the matchup, going 12-1 while averaging 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 53% shooting.
The second first-time return came on Nov. 21, 2018, after James had spent four seasons back in Cleveland from 2014-18 and then joined the Lakers. This time, the setting was much calmer.
The Cavaliers entered the night 2-13, the Lakers were 9-7, and the feelings around James had changed after he helped bring a title to Cleveland in his second stint. The crowd greeted him warmly with plenty of cheers and ovations.
Even with a friendlier scene, James still took center stage. He played 35 minutes and finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, knocking down 11 of 20 shots and posting a plus-9.
Cedi Osman led Cleveland with 21 points, Jordan Clarkson added 20 off the bench, and Los Angeles held on for a 109-105 win. That pushed James to 2-0 in first games back in Cleveland.
This next one brings a different twist. His first game against the Cavs with the 76ers will be in Cleveland, but the crowd noise should be coming from the other side. Philadelphia fans are known for letting people hear it, yet with the 22X All-Star joining a team with Jaylen Brown on it, the expectation is that Xfinity Mobile Arena will be loud for him.
What he does on the floor is a little harder to pin down. At 41, James has been less predictable lately, and with three other All-Stars in the starting group, he may not need to carry the same load.
Still, the night figures to have plenty of buzz when Oct. 22, 2026 arrives. The Cavaliers will need to be ready.
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Among the notable moves is the arrival of Galen Davies, who has taken on a major leadership role on the Cavaliers business side after leaving Portland, where he had been chief revenue officer. For Cleveland, it is the kind of hire that can strengthen the organization behind the scenes, even if the circumstances around it speak to the broader uncertainty surrounding the Blazers ownership change and the cost-cutting ripple effects still being felt there. [Read more 🡒]
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Interest in Allen has been real enough to keep the phone lines busy, but the Cavaliers have drawn a clear line: they would only move him if the return clearly boosts their title chances. For now, there have been plenty of inquiries, yet no formal offer to push the discussion past the curiosity stage, which says as much about Clevelands priorities as it does about Allens value around the league. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Preseason Left One Rotation Battle Looking Much Different
The Cavaliers 2026-27 preseason ended without a winning record, but the more meaningful takeaway for the regular season may be how one rotation competition shifted over the last few weeks. Cleveland spent the exhibition slate sorting through roles, and newcomer Mario Hezonja emerged as one of the clearer winners by showing he could help in more than one way while the team looked for reliable depth around its core.
The backup point guard spot, meanwhile, never really produced the separation the Cavaliers were hoping for. Tyrese Proctor got chances to make his case, but his offense never found much rhythm and the overall production left the door open for Cleveland to keep looking as the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]