The NBA’s opening night gets a marquee matchup as LeBron James makes his 76ers debut against the defending champion Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
New York raises its banner Tuesday before the 7 p.m. ET tip, while these LeBron James props target where the new-look Philadelphia star can deliver immediate value.
Check out the latest LeBron James odds before making your 76ers vs. Knicks predictions.
LeBron James predictions: 76ers vs Knicks
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LeBron James top pick: 15+ points
I'd trade LeBron James 15+ points up to 60%.
Look, I know LeBron could spend opening night deferring to his teammates and figuring out exactly what this roster needs from him. But James has literally scored the most points in NBA history, and this game is at The Garden, a.k.a. the biggest stage in basketball. There's also a decent chance his teammates defer right back to him.
More importantly, LeBron scored at least 15 points in 49 of 60 games last season (82%), which was his lowest-scoring campaign since his rookie year.
There were plenty of nights when he coasted for stretches, then flipped the switch late and still filled the box score. At this number, that's enough.
LeBron James long shot prop: 3+ made threes
LeBron James' 3+ made threes prop is playable up to 20% because I'm predicting a bounce-back from his poor outside shooting last season.
James hit just 31.7% from behind the arc last year after making 39.3% of his threes from 2023-25, so there should be some positive regression.
The spacing around him should help, too. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown all demand defensive attention, which should create plenty of clean looks for LeBron.
The Knicks also ranked 22nd in 3-point attempts allowed per game last season, and New York may pack the paint even more after losing Mitchell Robinson this offseason.
LeBron James combo for 76ers vs Knicks
15+ points
2+ made threes
6+ assists
This combo gives LeBron multiple ways to control the game without asking him to completely take over.
With so much scoring talent around him, James can spend stretches orchestrating the offense and piling up assists while picking his spots as a scorer. If New York packs the paint against Embiid, Maxey, and Brown's drives, that should give LeBron open looks from deep.
Lowering the made 3-pointer prop to 2+ makes this leg easier to cash, while 6+ assists gives him room to function as a facilitator. LeBron doesn’t need a vintage performance. He can spend stretches distributing the ball and still contribute enough scoring and perimeter shooting to cash the other two legs.
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