The Knicks aren’t scared of LeBron James — or a brewing rivalry with superteam 76ers

Josh Hart predicted it. Really, we all did.

It was obvious.

“Wherever LeBron [James] went in the East, I figured that’d probably be our opening night [game],” Hart said after Knicks practice Sunday. “That will be good for headlines and box office and those kinds of things.”

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With training camp and the preseason over, all attention now turns to the opener against the 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

With it being banner/ring night and the opener, there is already plenty of intrigue and attention. But it is impossible to escape all the extras involved.

The NBA, with LeBron and Jaylen Brown joining the 76ers to create a supposed “superteam” this offseason, is clearly interested in making this a rivalry and season-long storyline. The two teams play each other twice in the opening six games — both on national television. In fact, all four matchups this season are on national television.

Most have labeled the 76ers — with a core of James, Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — as the biggest threat to the Knicks’ chances of repeating as champions.

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Add in the close geographical distance, the recent playoff history between the two teams and the fact LeBron has publicly said he envisioned finishing his career with the Knicks had they not won the title (and is living part-time in New York City), and there are all the ingredients of a renewed rivalry.

LeBron James signed with the 76ers in July. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mike Brown’s first head coaching gig was coaching James with the Cavaliers. He knows that when James is involved, everything is just bigger.

“The reality of it, in coach talk, you want to say every game is the same,” the Knicks coach said Sunday. “That’s what you try to impress upon your guys is, ‘Hey, when we step on the floor, no matter who’s in front of us, you want to give the same focus, energy and effort to the next possession in front of you.’ But because of the talk, because of who he is — he is a large figure not just in life, but in the NBA.

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“You also gotta look at the guys they have on the team and the guys they’ve added…

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Publish date : 2026-10-18 23:51:00

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