Sixers vs. Celtics ranked top rivalry heading into the new season

The rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics runs deep. The battles between Julius Erving and Larry Bird. The fantastic performance by Andrew Toney to earn "The Boston Strangler" nickname. The battles between Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce . The current iteration with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey vs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown .

Now, that rivalry should take an even bigger step in the coming season with Brown being traded to the Sixers after 10 years with the Celtics. The battle between Brown and Tatum when these teams match up should be extremely interesting, and when one adds in Boston antagonist LeBron James , the Sixers vs. Celtics rivalry will be must-see TV.

ESPN ranked the top 10 rivalries for the 2026-27 season and this one earned the No. 1 ranking:

Then, the 76ers traded for longtime Celtic Jaylen Brown, a former Finals MVP for Boston. And finally, they signed James in free agency. Those transactions in particular add fascinating wrinkles to an already heated rivalry. Presumably, when the two teams meet this season, Brown and Jayson Tatum will spend plenty of time guarding each other as teammates turned rivals. James also folds in his own lengthy individual rivalry with the Celtics, whom he faced in playoff series in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018; the NBA's all-time scoring leader experienced arguably the best and worst moments of his career against Boston in the playoffs.

Then, the 76ers traded for longtime Celtic Jaylen Brown, a former Finals MVP for Boston. And finally, they signed James in free agency.

Those transactions in particular add fascinating wrinkles to an already heated rivalry. Presumably, when the two teams meet this season, Brown and Jayson Tatum will spend plenty of time guarding each other as teammates turned rivals. James also folds in his own lengthy individual rivalry with the Celtics, whom he faced in playoff series in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018; the NBA's all-time scoring leader experienced arguably the best and worst moments of his career against Boston in the playoffs.

The Sixers will face the Celtics twice in the preseason and the first regular season matchup is set for Nov. 10 in Philadelphia , which marks the return of Paul George .