The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to become the NBA’s biggest national television attraction during the 2026-27 season following the signing of LeBron James.
According to Front Office Sports, the Sixers are projected to receive 34 nationally televised games, the maximum allowed under the league’s current media rights agreement. The scheduling decision reflects the enormous attention generated by James joining a roster that has undergone one of the NBA’s most dramatic offseason overhauls.
Philadelphia already featured several marquee names before the summer began, but the front office dramatically reshaped the roster. The franchise acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George and draft compensation, giving the Sixers a new core built around Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and now James.
The increased exposure comes after a turbulent 2025-26 campaign. Philadelphia finished 45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference, before defeating Boston in a seven-game first-round series. The Sixers’ postseason ended abruptly, however, as the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks completed a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Maxey remained the team’s offensive engine last season, averaging 28.3 points and 6.6 assists while earning an All-Star selection and All-NBA Third Team honors. Embiid was limited to just 38 games because of injuries but still produced 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest.
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe also emerged as an important building block, averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 75 starts while finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. Paul George contributed 17.3 points in 37 games before becoming the centerpiece of the offseason trade that landed Brown.
Philadelphia also addressed its supporting cast by signing Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Ariel Hukporti while drafting Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick. The Sixers added Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love on two-way contracts.
The arrival of James dramatically changes the team’s profile both on and off the court. Even entering his 24th NBA season, James remains one of basketball’s biggest television draws. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season before entering free agency.
