With the NBA schedule now out, the Golden State Warriors can circle one date that stands out above the rest: the first visit from LeBron James in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform.
James, who drew plenty of attention throughout Golden State’s 2026 summer, ended up choosing the Sixers after becoming a free agent. The Warriors were viewed as a finalist for his next stop, but he picked Philadelphia over Golden State, Cleveland, Miami and Minnesota.
That makes March 24, 2027, a big one on the Warriors’ calendar. That’s when James and the new-look Sixers are set to come to Chase Center for their only trip to the Bay Area. The rematch comes quickly, too, with Golden State heading to Philadelphia just one week later.
James is the biggest name in the Sixers’ makeover, but he’s not the only one. Philadelphia also brought in Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, adding another All-Star to a group that already includes Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and sophomore guard VJ Edgecombe.
The Warriors already know what that matchup can look like. Philadelphia won both meetings last season, starting with a 99-98 escape in Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey led the way with 35 points, while Golden State erased a 24-point deficit and pushed things to the final second. Edgecombe tipped in the winning basket with 0.9 seconds left, and Maxey blocked De'Anthony Melton at the rim as time expired.
The Sixers also handled the Warriors in the second meeting, a 113-94 win in which Edgecombe finished with 25 points.
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Warriors Just Sent A Telling Message About Gui Santos
Gui Santos has become one of those developmental players the Warriors seem intent on protecting, and this latest bit of team business says plenty about how Golden State views him heading into the new NBA season. Santos has played a meaningful role for Brazil in recent years, but he also finished last season on a strong note for the Warriors, which appears to have raised his standing inside the organization.
The issue now is availability, not ability. Brazil has World Cup qualifier games coming up against the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and Golden State reportedly was not very open to releasing Santos for that window. For a player trying to carve out a larger role in Steve Kerrs rotation, the message is pretty clear: the Warriors want him close by, even if that means asking him to skip national team duty for now. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Still Have A Real Shot At A Frontcourt Gamble
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For Golden State, the intrigue is less about where he ends up than how long this drags on and which suitors stay engaged. Cleveland and Minnesota remain in the mix, and the uncertainty around the final landing spot keeps the situation fluid for a Warriors team that knows Kumingas future could still shape the wider offseason picture. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Dynasty Shift Is Getting Harder To Ignore
Golden State spent its 2022 offseason trying to bridge two timelines at once, locking up Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins as part of a plan to keep the title core relevant while adding younger legs around Stephen Curry. Instead, those decisions quickly became part of a broader recalibration once Mike Dunleavy Jr. took over as general manager, with the front office later moving Poole for Chris Paul as the franchise tried to balance present-day competitiveness with a salary structure that has grown increasingly restrictive.
Pooles regression made that shift easier to justify, but it also underscored how little room the Warriors have created for error with so many expensive contracts already on the books. Pauls arrival helped as a roster move and as a trade asset, yet the bigger question hanging over the organization is whether this is a one-off adjustment or the start of a harder, messier transition away from the dynastys most familiar shape. [Read more 🡒]