LeBron James faces the New York Knicks on NBA opening night with Lakers clash on Christmas Day as signature fixtures announced

The blockbuster clash headlines a selection of "signature" fixtures released by the NBA, with the announcement also revealing that James will return to Los Angeles on Christmas Day to face his former team, the Lakers.

Four-time NBA champion James, who signed for the Sixers on a two-year, $8m contract in July , will face the Cleveland Cavaliers - with whom he won the NBA title in 2016 - in his first home game in Philadelphia on October 22.

Opening night, taking place on October 20, also features a clash between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons at 8pm UK time, before the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals in the late game.

The Christmas Day slate kicks off with an NBA Finals rematch between the San Antonio and the Knicks, before Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat travel to Boston to face the Celtics.

The NBA also announced that French sensation Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs would be heading to Paris in January to face the New Orleans Pelicans, before the two teams travel to Manchester in the first-ever NBA game at the Co-op Live Arena.

Full NBA Signature schedule announcement

Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs

Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Jan 14 - New Orleans Pelicans vs San Antonio Spurs - Accor Arena, Paris

Jan 17 - New Orleans Pelicans vs San Antonio Spurs - Co-op Live Arena, Manchester

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