The hope here is sanity will prevail when Akron native LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Cavaliers during the 2026-27 NBA season. The dates for those reunions were revealed on Thursday, Aug. 13, when the NBA unveiled its full schedule. James and the Sixers will have regular-season games at Cleveland on Nov. 6 (Prime Video) and March 1 (Peacock). The Cavs will also open their season at the 76ers on Oct. 22 (ESPN). To summarize, the Cavs and Sixers are slated to clash three times during the upcoming season, one in Philly and twice in Northeast Ohio. Let's focus on James returning to Cleveland as a member of the 76ers. This has been written under this byline before, and it's appropriate to reiterate it now: James should be celebrated — never booed — whenever he returns to Rocket Arena. Not everyone agrees, though.
When James ended his 25-day odyssey as an NBA free agent July 24 by announcing on social media he would sign with the 76ers, Cavs fans were left justifiably disappointed and upset about "The Rejection." The NBA's all-time leading scorer and the most famous Akronite ever passed on a third tour with the Cavs to join his fourth franchise ahead of his unprecedented 24th season. The 76ers received a massive bargain, too, because James, still an All-Star at age 41, signed a two-year, $8 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. The message sent to Cavs fans in this space was essentially feel your feelings. It's understandable for James' choice to sting, especially given his history with Northeast Ohio. Coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the Cavs would have turned an offseason of relative inactivity into a smash hit if they had secured James. On the "Game Over" podcast, agent Rich Paul said reports about the James sweepstakes being narrowed down to 76ers, Cavs, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors "were true." Paul also confirmed the Cavs were the only suitor to meet with James this summer. It occurred when president of basketball operations Koby Altman, assistant general manager Brandon Weems and vice president of basketball and business operations Grant Gilbert, the son of owner Dan Gilbert, rendezvoused with James at his Bath Township mansion.
The peek behind the curtain is not going to remove scars from Cavs fans. However, a line should be drawn in the sand when it comes to Cleveland's treatment of James, a four-time NBA champion, a 22-time All-Star, a four-time Most Valuable Player and a four-time Finals MVP. It's time to double down on this: A 2003 St. Vincent-St. Mary High School graduate, James should not be booed when he is back in town as a 76ers player. LeBron James column: Akron native's choice reveals how he views Cavs as contenders | Opinion A reader who requested anonymity emailed to argue James had reestablished himself as an enemy of Cavs fans this summer and "deserves a showering of boos for screwing us again." Another emailer who claimed he and his wife were happy James would not be back with the Cavs wrote, "Now, if he would just sell the rest of his business interests in the area, the divorce would be complete." Counterpoint: James is the greatest Cleveland sports figure of all time, and how he chooses to end his playing career won't alter his status. Without James, the Cavs would not have won their only championship in 2016, and Cleveland would be in the midst of a nearly 62-year title drought among its major professional sports teams. James also continues to give back to his hometown in tremendous ways through his foundation, and severing ties would be devastating to the families his philanthropy aids.
Furthermore, James' choice in free agency this summer was not at all the same as "The Decision" he made in 2010 to dump the Cavs on national TV for the Heat. In 2026, there was no ESPN special or departure from the Cavs. James left the Los Angeles Lakers, who were not heartbroken about his eight-season tenure ending because they had pivoted to building around 27-year-old Luka Doncic, LA's blockbuster trade acquisition in February 2025. James encountered intense vitriol in 2010 when he visited the Cavs as a member of the Heat. He has said he regrets how he handled "The Decision" and apologized. He atoned for it by rejoining the Cavs in 2014, leading them to four consecutive NBA Finals and seizing the 2016 championship by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against the Warriors. The triumph resulted in Cleveland's first big-time sports crown since the Browns upset the Baltimore Colts 27-0 on Dec. 27, 1964. LeBron James column: NBA's scoring king giving Cavs 'The Rejection' opens old wounds | Opinion
A decade ago, this is what the late Jim Brown, the best player in Browns history, told me about James orchestrating the end of Cleveland's championship curse: “[Dan] Gilbert is going to give him a statue. He’d better give him a statue. That young man put out so much blood, sweat and tears it’s unbelievable. He gave up his life. He could’ve had a heart attack he was playing so hard. So they’d better give him a statue. That’s the least they could do. “[He’s] a young man who has taken responsibility on every level — community, family, team, organization, city — and he’s done it with grace. He’s carried himself well. He has bitten the bullet many times, and it’s paid off for him. His legacy is set, and I’m so happy for him.” Of course, James left the Cavs again when he signed with the Lakers in 2018. He could have restored himself as the homecoming king by signing with the Cavs this offseason, yet the 76ers appealed to his desire for a fifth ring by landing 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown on July 1 in a trade with the Boston Celtics. James, Brown and Co. are scheduled to play regular-season games at Rocket Arena on Nov. 6 and March 1. It's worth noting James has never faced the Cavs in the playoffs. The possibility exists with him back in the Eastern Conference. Either way, when James and the Lakers visited the Cavs, the kid from Akron felt love from Cleveland. Respect should continue to be shown as James dons a 76ers uniform in his old stomping grounds. Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: LeBron James chose 76ers over Cavaliers. Don't boo him for it. Opinion