By erasing a 29-point deficit, this is the largest comeback in LeBron James’ career. Previously, his biggest comebacks were two 27-pointers, one with Miami (also over Cleveland, in 2013), and another with the Lakers over Dallas, in 2023.

Well, LeBron James didn’t come back to Cleveland, but he did sparked a comeback on the Cavs in this game. The home opener for Philly went from a sour night to a glorious chapter.

LeBron James’ stats in the 76ers comeback vs Cavs

James just shot 5-14 from the field, but he still was key. He ended up with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. James also had three steals and a +7 in plus/minus. An overall very good performance that helped the 76ers.

This also marks the first double-double of LeBron James in a 76ers jersey. All in all, the 76ers are now 2-0 and with high momentum after beating the reigning champs on opening night and igniting the crowd in their home opener with a 29-point comeback.

Cavs vs 76ers box score

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Philadelphia 76ers:

Key takeaways

• The 76ers erased a 29-point deficit against Cleveland, the largest comeback of LeBron James’ career.
• LeBron James recorded his first double-double in a 76ers jersey with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• The 76ers are now 2-0 after completing the home opener comeback against the Cavaliers.

LeBron James did not return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2026–27 NBA season because he instead signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, driven by roster moves and personal priorities rather than a desire for a homecoming.

James, at year 24 of his career, is still seeking for a new way of motivation and a ring with the 76ers was enough motivation to sway his decision. Hence, the 76ers, where LeBron James is playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, got the upper hand.

The 76ers roster fit James better than the Cavs

The Cavs don’t have a bad roster by any stretch of the imagination. They are, by all means, a playoff team and could get hot at the right time. However, the 76ers‘ star-studded roster was more enticing for James as he fits better.

On the 76ers, James has more role flexibility. He acts as a primary connector, short-roll playmaker, and high-IQ veteran alongside dynamic scorers. He doesn’t need to have the full responsibility.

The 76ers presented an option James didn’t have in Cleveland

If James wins a ring with the 76ers, he will be the first player to win an NBA championship with four different franchises. Given how he already won a chip with the Cavs, he wouldn’t have the chance to get that milestone.

Key takeaways

• LeBron James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers instead of returning to Cleveland.
• Entering his 24th NBA season, LeBron James sought new motivation to win a championship.
• A 76ers championship would make LeBron the first player to win with four franchises.

For all wondering, and that’s everyone, LeBron James is active and expected to play a full workload for the 76ers against the Cavaliers. James wasn’t featured on the injury report, so he’s a full go. Many wonder why LeBron James didn’t sign for the Cavaliers, instead opting for the 76ers, but now, the star must face that very decision head on.

James played in the 76ers season opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and logged a a 34-minute performance as the Sixers spoiled banner night for the Knicks.

How did LeBron James do in his 76ers debut?

In 34 minutes, James scored 5-13 from the field for 14 points (including 4-6 free throws), nine rebounds and seven assists. However, there’s more to the story. James had a verbal altercation with some MSG fans, and also, his +/- was a negative -2.

Hence, James wasn’t stellar by any means, but he proved he still can be a multi-faceted asset for this team. However, his efficiency should rise as the games go by. Tonight against the Cavaliers, he should have a better outing, given that fans will be rooting for him.

The Cavs are not an easy opponent

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have not landed LeBron James during the last free agency period, but they didn’t need him exactly. He would’ve been a cherry on top of an already great roster.

With players like James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley, this team is ready to compete. Role players like Jarrett Allen and Peyton Watson make this roster a very talented one. For the Sixers to win, James and company must be at their A-game.

Key takeaways

• LeBron James is active for the Philadelphia 76ers’ home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• LeBron James recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in his 76ers debut.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers feature James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley on their roster.

“Let me just try to sacrifice the money, the individual accolades, all that. Let me just try to sacrifice and switch it up a little bit, and hopefully that’ll work in my favor in the sense of trying to win a championship,“ Harden admitted.

Navigating his subsequent stints, Harden reflected on how “tricky” things got upon joining the Brooklyn Nets and later adjusting his role with the Philadelphia 76ers—admitting that, ultimately, “None of that worked.”

“I sacrificed money, I sacrificed being the top scorer that I am, that I still am and will be. Long story short: it was for nothing,” Cleveland Cavaliers‘ star confessed, reflecting on his ring-chasing journey during a wild NBA offseason defined by blockbuster player movement across the league, like Klay Thompson going to the Miami Heat.

Harden’s tumultuous exit from Houston

James Harden’s departure from Houston in early 2021 followed a chaotic offseason in which he rejected a historic two-year, $103 million extension and demanded a trade. He delayed reporting to training camp, missing mandatory practices while attending events in Atlanta and Las Vegas in violation of the league’s health and safety protocols.

Once he finally rejoined the team, Harden’s on-court effort dropped off noticeably, leading to an uninspired 3-6 start for the Rockets. Over his final five games in Houston, his production cratered to just 17.4 points per game on under 38% shooting from the field.

The situation reached its breaking point following a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, where Harden bluntly told reporters that the Rockets were “just not good enough” to fix. Houston traded him to the Brooklyn Nets the very next day in a massive four-team blockbuster deal.

Shams Charania reported shortly after news of the Schroder trade broke that the Cavaliers are still “strongly” pursuing both Kuminga and Watson while keeping the re-signing of James Harden as their top focus.

“The Cavaliers remain in constant communication with James Harden and his agents on a new contract to return to Cleveland while they strongly pursue two free agent forwards — restricted Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan Kuminga — made more viable with Friday’s trade,” Charania reported.

What the Cavaliers gained

The Cavaliers free up about $6.8 million in cap space in this deal, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac, putting them approximately $29.6 million below the first apron of the luxury tax (and by extension about $40.3 million below the second apron).

That is still not enough room to trade for Watson or Kuminga and re-sign Harden, so either Max Struss’ salary will have to go out in any deal, or he will be traded elsewhere (Mann could also be moved again). Cleveland has more options now.

Cavaliers focused on Harden

Cleveland has remained in contact with Harden and his camp throughout the summer, Charania notes. Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option for this NBA season to give the franchise room to chase players like LeBron James (who chose Philadelphia) or make a move for a player like Watson or Kuminga. Harden will re-sign with Cleveland for less per year but more total money across the multi-year contract.

On the flip side, if Cleveland is working to put together a better offer for Watson now that Schroder is gone, that could help guide Kuminga straight to Los Angeles. With the Lakers reportedly pursuing the forward the way that they are, they can only hope that will be the case. He should feel the same way, too, as LA has more for him.

In an intriguing turn of events, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have held an interest in acquiring the 23-year-old forward, have emerged as a more “serious” candidate to land Watson.

“They made the Eastern Conference Finals last year. They were among the last four teams standing. They haven’t done much to adjust their roster since they lost Dean Wade. Obviously, they missed out on LeBron. We’re all aware of that. I’m told, though, that they are a ‘serious’ candidate to land Peyton Watson. There are other teams interested in Watson as well, but they are a serious candidate.”

Cavaliers in pursuit of youth

Although initial plans were different and the conversation primarily revolved around James Harden’s upcoming contract extension and his fit alongside Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, the panel agreed that Cleveland needs an upgrade.

A player like Peyton Watson (14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG) would certainly fit the bill. On top of his on-court production, Watson adds youth to the roster at just 23 years old with his entire career ahead of him.

How the Cavs could land Watson

Realistically, structuring a deal isn’t as big of an issue on the Cavaliers’ side. If Peyton Watson’s contract is assumed to be worth roughly $15-$17 million annually—which is what some project Denver’s current offer to be—Cleveland could create a package comprising Dennis Schroder’s $14.8 million contract and draft compensation, potentially one NBA first-round pick and a second-round pick.

Alternatively, in the unlikely situation that the Nuggets agree to Watson’s demands for a contract worth roughly $25 million annually, the Cavaliers may have a harder time formulating a package. However, given Denver’s payroll issues, Cleveland would only need to increase the draft compensation, potentially even swapping Dennis Schroder for Max Strus’ $16.6 million contract.

Still, it must be kept in mind that the Cavaliers currently have a payroll of $187.2 million. Once Harden signs his new contract, Cleveland’s flexibility will disappear. This would make it infinitely harder to acquire Peyton Watson even if he signs a low-value deal. Ultimately, any move the team makes will largely depend on two factors: Harden’s extension and Denver’s approach to clearing cap space.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers are looking to ship Schroder out of town. They are more interested in bringing in either Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga, which would fit more of a need than the backup point guard spot.

“The Cavs continue to discuss various trade packages involving Schroder, seeing if there is an opportunity to slightly reconfigure the roster or gain financial flexibility, which would help their pursuit of free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson,” Fedor wrote.

Cavaliers taking serious approach

The Cavaliers still have that chip on their shoulder and recognize they can offer much more and re-establish themselves as a contender with the roster they have. That is the main reason why James Harden still has not signed an extension.

Harden is willing to help the Cavs out so that they have enough money to bring in another guy. However, that likely won’t be enough. Cleveland might also have to make a trade in order to free up some money to bring in one of two forwards that they have on their minds.

Cleveland has very little cap flexibility at the moment to add another player. Anyone they add would push them closer to the second apron, which is where they finished a year ago. Doing the same now would be a big issue, as then the Cavaliers would face restrictions.

The situation with Kuminga and Watson

Kuminga has reportedly not been willing to sign a minimum contract. Several teams around the league have been trying to sign him to such a deal. Watson is still in a stalemate of restricted free agency with the Nuggets. Both of them would be hard to fit into the current cap structure without making some sort of trade.

According to Jake Weinbach, the Cavaliers are interested following reports that Washington is available on the market. “Cavaliers would be a team worth monitoring for PJ Washington with the Mavericks forward reportedly available on the trade market. Cleveland’s interest level may depend on how the rest of free agency plays out, but Washington’s two-way skill set would be a desirable fit,” Weinbach stated.

Washington could serve as a strong target for the Cavaliers after missing out on LeBron James. However, potential roster shifts could unfold across the league, with rumors also pointing to a possible departure for Klay Thompson amid interest from the Miami Heat.

Washington could be out of Dallas’ future plans

The Dallas Mavericks intend to go all-in on the Cooper Flagg era and seem to want to move on from a couple of veteran contracts from the previous group to focus on a new, renewed roster.

The team has also loaded up with players who accomplish similar things, adding Morez Johnson Jr., Zaccharie Risacher, and Santi Aldama while recently extending Naji Marshall.

The franchise wanting to get off that money and open up minutes could help the Cavaliers get a player that checks their boxes at a good price. Last season, Washington put up 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 45.0/32.5/68.7 shooting splits.

He was a little bit better from three than the season before at 38.1% on a similar output. Now seven years into his NBA career, he has remained fairly consistent. He can rebound, is active on defense, and spaces the floor a little bit at forward.

O’Neal made some interesting comments when that report was brought up on the latest episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq. During the conversation, Adam Lefkoe mentioned hearing about the possibility of LeBron joining Cleveland and bringing Kyrie Irving along, but Shaq offered a blunt response.

“Kyrie ain’t letting that happen,” O’Neal said. Iman Shumpert, who played with both stars on the Cavaliers and was present on the podcast, pointed out that Irving could not really have stopped this from happening, as the Mavericks could trade him without his consent. The 34-year-old does not have a no-trade clause that would allow him to control where he goes.

Shaq’s point

O’Neal’s primary point, though, is that Irving does not want to team up with James again. That is quite interesting. Irving and James previously had been teammates on the Cavaliers from 2014 to 2017. They won a championship together in 2016 by stunningly overturning a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors would win the rematch against the Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals, and that was the last time we saw the duo together. Irving asked out during the 2017 offseason, reportedly because he no longer wanted to play a secondary role behind James. The Cavaliers would then trade him to the Boston Celtics to end what had been an incredibly successful partnership.

The reason why a James-Irving reunion on the Cavaliers was highly unlikely was that the Mavericks did not want to trade him. The nine-time All-Star, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, was not going to push for a move, either, as he is comfortable with his situation.

Past rumors of Irving pursuing James

It should not be forgotten that Irving reportedly pushed for the Mavericks to acquire James in 2023. He was even said to have tried to persuade his former teammate to join him in Dallas. It was not to be, though.

However, the Minnesota Timberwolves have also recently expressed interest in Kuminga, per HoopsHype, but operate under financial restrictions of their own. The Timberwolves have access to a $6.06 million taxpayer mid-level exception, but the Lakers have a higher financial offer and a longer contract on the table.

Minnesota missed out on LeBron James and still has the power forward slot open for a player of Kuminga’s caliber, a situation similar to what the Cavaliers are facing. This means that despite potentially offering the better basketball fit, the other two teams are understood to be ahead, which could prompt the Wolves to make a greater push. Furthermore, Minnesota presents an intriguing project alongside Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.

Kuminga entangled in controversy

Kuminga‘s path in the NBA has not been smooth. Kuminga arrived at the Atlanta Hawks after being traded alongside Buddy Hield by the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.

He signed a two-year, $46 million deal with the Warriors at the end of last season after holding out for a number of weeks. A similar situation has arisen this time around, with Kuminga understood to be unwilling to commit long-term on a deal that he deems less than what he is worth.

While he initially demanded a contract worth $20 million annually, he is also reportedly unwilling to sign a three-year deal, which is a required condition for any sign-and-trade agreement under NBA rules. This further complicates matters for the Cavaliers, who need a sign-and-trade to complete the acquisition.

On the other hand, Kuminga reportedly turned down a two-year, $20 million offer from the Lakers, which still leaves them as the most likely destination of the three. This is because the Timberwolves cannot offer that same amount, and Kuminga’s camp is understood to be remaining patient as they wait for further movement in the free-agent market.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers will meet with Kuminga about working toward finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon. Cleveland stands as a main finalist for Kuminga’s services alongside the Lakers, maintaining the same trend seen so far.

However, the main issue remains Kuminga’s expectations. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually. Contract length has become the primary obstacle in Kuminga’s NBA market. A sign-and-trade requires a three-year deal under the collective bargaining agreement, but Kuminga’s position is that he will take less than his asking price only on a one-year contract.

Kuminga’s situation

Cleveland sits roughly $25.3 million under the first apron and just under $38 million under the second. The Cavaliers can start Kuminga at $6.1 million on the taxpayer mid-level exception, for $12.4 million over two years. Using the exception hard-caps Cleveland at the second apron. Max Strus is owed $16 million this season and Dennis Schroder $14.7 million, with both contracts set to expire next summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers face complications in their path to completing a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. The Atlanta Hawks have been reluctant to take back Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade, which could mean a third team is needed.

Atlanta declined Kuminga‘s $24.3 million option in June. He has been an unrestricted free agent since, marking the first time in his career he has reached the open market.

A bonus for the Cavs is that Cleveland appeals to Kuminga. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was Steve Kerr’s lead assistant in Golden State for Kuminga’s first three seasons. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, is from Northeast Ohio, and Kuminga spent part of the 2025 offseason training in Cleveland. “Jonathan likes the Cavs, likes (coach) Kenny Atkinson, and (star) Donovan Mitchell likes him,” Turner told The Athletic last week.