LeBron Opens His Sixers Era at MSG, Chasing His First 0-for Debut Win

LeBron James tips off his record 24th NBA season Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, and it comes with a weird footnote: he's never won a franchise debut. Four new stints, four opening-night losses — including his 2003 pro debut (25 points, nine assists) and his Lakers opener (26-12-6). Philadelphia is his fourth franchise and fifth stint when you count both Cleveland runs.

The opponent is poetic. The Knicks spoiled his Cleveland homecoming back in the day — he went for 17 with eight turnovers in a 95-90 loss — and now they get to raise a championship banner while James watches from the visitor's locker room. He's told reporters he once pictured finishing his career at MSG; New York's title rewrote that script. At least the building's been kind: he's 24-9 there, averaging 28.2 points, 7.4 assists and 6.9 rebounds across 33 games.

For fantasy purposes, the backstory is noise. What matters is that the 41-year-old is still producing elite numbers. James posted 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games last season (2025-26), good for 41.4 fantasy points per game and a #23 overall finish in our rankings — ninth among forwards. He's not a luxury. He's a foundation piece.

Still Doing the Dirty Work

If you needed proof the motor's intact, the preseason finale delivered it. James planted himself outside the restricted area and took a charge on Boston's 6-foot-10 Luka Garza, drawing the whistle and sending the Sixers bench into a frenzy. Maxey said James had promised in practice he'd absorb that kind of contact once games counted — and he made good on it. Rookie Labaron Philon admitted he was floored that a player that old would still put his body on the line in an exhibition.

Context on those bodies involved: Garza (our #274, 16.2 fantasy pts/game last season) and Ron Harper Jr. (#376, 8.9) are deep-league afterthoughts, and Adem Bona — the Sixers center James stepped aside for in practice — sits at #301. None of them belong near standard rosters. James is the only name here that moves your lineup.

Off the court, James fronts SLAM 265 in his new No. 23, with the cover reading "This is my last run. Part II" — a callback to the 2002 "Takeover" cover he shared with Sebastian Telfair before he'd played an NBA minute. The standard edition runs $13.99, with a $65 Orange Metal version ordering window open through Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. The $125 Gold Metal, limited to 94 copies, already sold out.

Bottom line: start James without hesitation Tuesday. His last five games came in at +7.9 fantasy points above his season average, the usage is there, and a hungry opening-night matchup against the team raising a banner is exactly the kind of spot he shows up for. The debut curse is his problem, not yours — your lineup just cashes the stat line.