LeBron James’ move back to the Eastern Conference has already changed the way the Philadelphia 76ers’ schedule looks, and it also drops them into one of the NBA’s more unusual side stories.
The Sixers will see the Phoenix Suns twice in 2026-2027, and one of those meetings lands on a date that gives the matchup an extra wrinkle: December 30, when LeBron James turns 42. That detail wasn’t lost on Dillon Brooks once reporters pointed it out.
“I’m excited. That’s more ammunition for me to win that game, but it should be fun,” Brooks told reporters.
Brooks also made it clear he isn’t bothered by the idea of facing James less often now that LeBron is back in the East.
“No, I’m not [disappointed] at all. It’ll build up for the games that we play.
Brooks has built a reputation as one of the league’s loudest trash talkers, a role that took shape during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and has continued since. He’s the kind of player who leans into the noise, and the internet has long latched onto the Brooks-LeBron dynamic even if the rivalry feels more one-sided than most fans would admit.
James has rarely spoken about Brooks, while Brooks has been far more willing to talk about the new Sixers superstar. With only two matchups on the schedule in 2026-2027, the buildup has a chance to get louder, not quieter. And when the games arrive, the crowd in Philadelphia figures to be right there with James against Brooks.
The first game comes in Phoenix at 9 PM ET on December 30. The second is in Philadelphia, set for a 7 PM ET tip-off on February 17, 2027.
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