LeBron James is scheduled to make his Philadelphia 76ers debut tonight against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, tipping off what could be his final NBA season for his fourth franchise in 24 years.
The 41-year-old carries no injury designation for the opener, a year after sciatica delayed the start of his final season with the Lakers. We'll be tracking his injury status with live updates throughout the season ahead of his potential farewell campaign.
Is LeBron James playing tonight?
LeBron James is expected to play against the Knicks on Tuesday, October 20. He is not listed on the NBA's injury report, and neither are 76ers teammates Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, or Jaylen Brown ahead of their first regular-season game together.
James played 25 minutes in Philadelphia's preseason finale against Boston on Friday, finishing with eight points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in his second preseason game.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks
- Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
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LeBron James injury history
Here's a look at James' most notable injury absences across his entire NBA career. Sciatica kept James out of the first 14 games last season, and he also missed three games in March with an elbow injury.
| Period | Team | Injury | Games missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 |  LAL |
Elbow injury | 3 |
| Oct.-Nov. 2025 | LAL |
Sciatica | 14 |
| March 2025 | LAL |
Groin strain | 7 |
| Feb.-March 2023 | LAL |
Right foot tendon injury | 13 |
| Feb. 2023 | LAL |
Left ankle soreness | 3 |
| Nov. 2022 | LAL |
Left adductor strain | 5 |
| March-April 2022 | LAL |
Left ankle sprain | 7 |
| Jan.-March 2022 | LAL |
Left knee swelling/soreness | 7 |
| Nov. 2021 | LAL |
Abdominal strain | 8 |
| March-May 2021 | LAL |
High right ankle sprain | 26 |
| Dec. 2018-April 2019 | LAL |
Left groin strain/soreness | 24 |
| Dec. 2014-Jan. 2015 |  CLE |
Left knee and lower back strains | 8 |
| March-April 2013 |  MIA |
Right hamstring strain/soreness | 5 |
| Nov.-Dec. 2007 | CLE |
Sprained left index finger | 5 |
| Jan. 2004 | CLE |
Sprained right ankle | 3 |
How many games has LeBron James played this season?
James' season debut is scheduled for tonight as he makes his first appearance with the 76ers. He played 60 of the Lakers' 82 games last season, his fewest appearances in a single season since 2022-23. Here's a look at his availability over the last five regular seasons:
| Season | Games played | Games missed |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 60 | 22 |
| 2024-25 | 70 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | 71 | 11 |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 27 |
| 2021-22 | 56 | 26 |
Regular season only. Games missed include all absences, not just injuries.
How many games has LeBron James missed this season?
Philadelphia opens its season tonight, so James has not missed any games this season. Given his age and mileage entering his 24th season, we can expect him to miss time with the 76ers likely wanting to keep the NBA's all-time leading scorer fresh for the postseason.
James missed 22 regular-season games last year in his final season with the Lakers and has missed double-digit contests each of the last six seasons. The last time he missed fewer than 10 games in a season came in 2019-20, when he played 67 of the Lakers' 71 games. In his final year with the Cavaliers in 2017-18, he played all 82 games and led the league in minutes per game (36.9).
How many playoff games has LeBron James played?
James has played an NBA-record 302 playoff games. That includes 10 appearances in the 2026 playoffs, when he played in every game of the Lakers' postseason run.
LeBron James' next game and 76ers schedule
LeBron's next scheduled game is October 20 at New York. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET tonight on NBC and Peacock. The Sixers' home opener is October 22 against Cleveland, where James played his first seven NBA seasons and 11 seasons in total.
| Date | Opponent | Tipoff (ET) | 76ers win probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 20 |  at Knicks |
7 p.m. | 38% |
| Oct. 22 | vs. Cavaliers |
7 p.m. | 56% |
| Oct. 24 |  vs. Bucks |
7:30 p.m. | — |
| Oct. 25 |  vs. Pistons |
7:30 p.m. | — |
| Oct. 28 |  at Pacers |
7 p.m. | — |
Win probabilities via Polymarket; subject to change.
The upcoming games against the Bucks and Pistons represent the first back-to-back of the season for the 76ers, both at home. We don't have any indication yet that James will miss either contest, but don't be surprised to see him sit out some back-to-backs this season.
What happens if LeBron James is out?
Even in the twilight of his career, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds for the Lakers last season to earn his 22nd All-Star appearance. He ranked in the top three on the team in all three of those stats, and he should be one of the 76ers' top options this season despite a star-studded cast around him.
Who benefits if LeBron James sits?
Maxey's assists and Brown's points are the first Polymarket props I'd check if James is ruled out. Maxey averaged 6.6 assists last season before James arrived, and while he'll still be the primary ball-handler for Philadelphia, I'd expect more of the offense to run through Maxey as a pick-and-roll savant when James isn't on the floor initiating possessions.
Similarly, Brown averaged 28.7 points for the Celtics last season but will need to take a back seat in Philadelphia with so many elite scoring options. That includes James, who occupies a similar spot on the floor as Brown and would free up opportunities along the wing for Brown whenever he sits.
How would his absence affect the 76ers' odds?
Philadelphia has a 38% win probability at Polymarket for tonight's matchup with the Knicks. I'd expect that number to fall if James were ruled out, though all signs point to him suiting up tonight for his 76ers debut.
The Knicks feature elite length defensively and can put Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby on Philadelphia's perimeter scorers like Maxey and Brown. That's a tougher assignment with James on the floor, too, so his absence would cost the 76ers offensively, though there's still enough star power on the floor for Philly to trust this group in a one-game setting.
If James were to miss extended time, that could hamper Philadelphia's championship outlook this season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers feature a 10% chance to win the title at Polymarket, which ranks third behind only the Thunder and Spurs.
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