RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 4 sourcesCredit: Alex Slitz/Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images
The NBA was rushing LeBron James’ decision so that they could decide the 2026-27 schedule, and now we can see why.
The NBA usually announces the schedule for the new season in the first few weeks of August, but the league couldn’t start their process until they knew where LeBron would play next season.
Now that they know the Philadelphia 76ers are the destination that James will be going to, the league has big plans for the new superteam in the East.
Front Office Sports is revealing that the NBA plans on giving the 76ers the maximum-allowed number of national TV games (34) next season, now that they’ve landed LeBron, alongside their other marquee moves.
“James’s Sixers are expected to get the maximum 34 national game telecasts/streams across Disney’s ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports/Peacock, and Amazon’s Prime Video during the upcoming NBA season, say sources.”
The 76ers will likely be featured during the biggest gamedays of the season, including Opening Night, Christmas, and likely the opening fixtures of the Emirates NBA Cup.
Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
76ers games against teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Heat, and Cavaliers will generate immense buzz, alongside other marquee opponents like the Spurs, Thunder, Warriors, and Timberwolves.
James isn’t single-handedly responsible for this, as the 76ers were bound to get more than 14 national TV games this year based on Brown’s addition alone.
However, there is almost no way the 76ers would’ve been given 34 national TV games if James didn’t join to make the contending 76ers roster even more compelling.
Silver will be hoping that not only James appears in most of these games, but he’ll also hope that Joel Embiid is healthy and the 76ers are actually looking like title contenders on the floor.
Hopefully, the league isn’t scheduling any of Philly’s national TV games on the second night of a back-to-back, because James and Embiid likely won’t be participating in those.
Warriors had a chance to trade for Jaylen Brown, now he’s the reason LeBron James joined the 76ers
Skip Bayless says LeBron James’ new role will make him a ‘perfect fit’ with Philadelphia 76ers
76ers being forced to overpay in trade talks for crucial move after landing LeBron James
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.