LeBron James tallied 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in his NBA debut against Sacramento in 2003.
As LeBron James gets set to open an unprecedented 24th NBA season on Oct. 20 when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the New York Knicks on the opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season, we take a look back at his previous 23 season openers.
Here’s a quick look at the numbers. James has averaged 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks, while shooting 50.2% from the field over 23 season-opening games. He’s posted six 30-point performances, ten 10-rebound games, two 10-assist games, 11 double-doubles and one triple-double.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown:
Oct. 29, 2003: Kings 106, Cavaliers 92
James’ Stats: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 9 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK, 0 3PM, 60% FG, 42 MIN
The most highly anticipated debut game in league history lived up to the hype with the league’s all-time leading scorer posting the first 25 points of his career. From the baseline jumper for his first NBA bucket to the breakaway tomahawk slam for his first NBA dunk, James made an unforgettable first impression.
Nov. 3, 2004: Pacers 109, Cavaliers 104 (OT)
James’ Stats: 28 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 2 3PM, 42.1% FG, 50 MIN
In his first season-opener at home, James racked up 28 points, eight assists and three blocks over 50 minutes in an overtime loss to the Pacers. It remains one of only 11 regular-season games in which James has played at least 50 minutes.
Nov. 2, 2005: Cavaliers 109, Hornets 87
James’ Stats: 31 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 6 3PM, 56.3% FG, 33 MIN
In his first season-opening victory, James caught fire from deep, sinking six 3-pointers in just seven attempts as he finished with 31 points in Cleveland’s win over the Hornets. He scored 24 points with five 3-pointers in the first half alone as Cleveland rolled.
Nov. 1, 2006: Cavaliers 97, Wizards 94
James’ Stats: 26 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 2 3PM, 45.8% FG, 41 MIN
James ranks third all-time with 233 career games with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. One of those instances came in this season-opening win over Washington as James scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter.
Oct. 31, 2007: Mavericks 92, Cavaliers 74
James’ Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 3PM, 18.2% FG, 36 MIN
From Jan. 6, 2007 to Dec. 1, 2025, James scored at least 10 points in a record 1,297 consecutive games. One of the few times that streak was threatened came in Cleveland’s season-opening loss to Dallas as James finished with exactly 10 points.
Oct. 28, 2008: Celtics 90, Cavaliers 85
James’ Stats: 22 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 0 3PM, 42.9% FG, 36 MIN
This was the first of five season-opening matchups between James and the Celtics — he’s faced no other team more than twice to begin a season. James put up a team-high 22 points, but it was not enough to take down the defending champs in Boston.
Oct. 27, 2009: Celtics 95, Cavaliers 89
James’ Stats: 38 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 4 BLK, 4 3PM, 54.5% FG, 45 MIN
Here’s the list of players to put up at least 38 points, four rebounds, eight assists, two steals, four blocks and four 3-pointers in an NBA game: LeBron James in his second straight season-opening loss to the Boston Celtics.
Oct. 26, 2010: Celtics 88, Heat 80
James’ Stats: 31 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 3 3PM, 47.6% FG, 43 MIN
The third time was not a charm for James as he fell to the Celtics to begin a third consecutive season, this time in his debut game as a member of the Miami Heat. James posted a game-high 31 points in Boston against a Celtics team eager to put its Game 7 loss in the 2010 Finals behind them.
Dec. 25, 2011: Heat 105, Mavericks 94
James’ Stats: 37 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 0 3PM, 57.9% FG, 36 MIN
After Dallas raised a championship banner to commemorate its 2011 NBA Finals win over Miami, James put up 37 points in 36 minutes to lead the Heat to a Christmas Day win over the Mavericks in the Finals rematch. It was the first step in Miami’s journey to capturing the 2012 title.
Oct. 30, 2012: Heat 120, Celtics 107
James’ Stats: 26 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 3PM, 62.5% FG, 29 MIN
In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, James and the Heat defeated the Celtics in seven games to reach the Finals and eventually win the title. After collecting their rings and raising the championship banner, the Heat faced their longtime nemesis from Boston to begin the season, with James leading the Heat to victory.
Oct. 29, 2013: Heat 107, Bulls 95
James’ Stats: 17 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 3PM, 45.5% FG, 38 MIN
For the second straight year, the Heat celebrated a championship victory at home before opening the new season with a playoff rematch — this time facing the Bulls after ousting Chicago in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. With 17 points, James led seven Heat players in double figures in the win.
Oct. 30, 2014: Knicks 95, Cavaliers 90
James’ Stats: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 3PM, 33.3% FG, 43 MIN
Following four seasons and two titles in Miami, James returned to Cleveland during the 2014 offseason. He was welcomed back with a deafening roar from the Cavs faithful, with the fans erupting in a frenzy during James’ pregame chalk toss. However, the return was spoiled by the Knicks, who earned a five-point win.
Oct. 27, 2015: Bulls 97, Cavaliers 95
James’ Stats: 25 PTS 10 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 3PM, 54.5% FG, 36 MIN
On their path to the NBA Finals in James’ first season back in 2014-15, the Cavs ousted the Bulls in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. A rematch of that series marked the season-opener for both teams, with Chicago prevailing at home despite James’ game-high 25 points. Even with the loss, this was the first step toward a championship run for the Cavs.
Oct. 25, 2016: Cavaliers 117, Knicks 88
James’ Stats: 19 PTS, 11 REB, 14 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 3PM, 64.3% FG, 32 MIN
After becoming the first team to rally back from 3-1 in the NBA Finals, winning the franchise’s first-ever NBA title and ending a 52-year pro-sports title drought in Cleveland, the Cavs opened their title defense with a 29-point blowout win over the Knicks behind a triple-double from James.
Oct. 17, 2017: Cavaliers 102, Celtics 99
James’ Stats: 29 PTS, 16 REB, 9 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 3PM, 63.2% FG, 41 MIN
In the last of his five season-openers against the Celtics, James finished just one assist shy of posting a second straight season-opening triple-double. He scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs earned a three-point win.
Oct. 18, 2018: Trail Blazers 128, Lakers 119
James’ Stats: 26 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 3PM, 56.3% FG, 37 MIN
In his first game in Lakers’ purple and gold, James put up 26 points, 12 boards and six assists, but it was not enough to earn a victory over Damian Lillard and the Blazers in Portland.
Oct. 22, 2019: Clippers 112, Lakers 102
James’ Stats: 18 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 3PM, 36.8% FG, 36 MIN
Kawhi Leonard’s debut with the Clippers overshadowed Anthony Davis’ debut with the Lakers as Davis’ 25 points and James’ near triple-double (18-10-8) were not enough to hold off Leonard and the Clippers in a season-opening Battle of L.A. However, the Lakers would go on to open the season 24-3 before going on to win the 2020 title.
Dec. 22, 2020: Clippers 116, Lakers 109
James’ Stats: 22 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 3PM, 41.2% FG, 28 MIN
Just 72 days after defeating the Heat in the NBA bubble to win the 2020 championship, the Lakers received their championship rings before facing the Clippers to open the season for the second straight year. James finished with a team-high 22 points, but played only 28 minutes after turning his ankle in the second half.
Oct. 19, 2021: Warriors 121, Lakers 114
James’ Stats: 34 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 5 3PM, 56.5% FG, 37 MIN
James leads all players with 185 career games with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. One of those games came in the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Warriors, who rallied late behind a triple-double from Steph Curry to help offset the combined 77 points from James and Davis (33 pts, 11 reb).
Oct. 18, 2022: Warriors 123, Lakers 109
James’ Stats: 31 PTS, 15 REB, 8 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 3PM, 46.2% FG, 35 MIN
After the Warriors raised their fourth championship banner in eight years, James (31) and Curry (33) dueled like they had over four straight Finals matchups from 2014-18, with Curry’s Warriors coming away with the win. However, despite a 2-10 start to the season, the Lakers rallied to reach the playoffs via the Play-In and eventually ended Golden State’s title defense in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Oct. 24, 2023: Nuggets 119, Lakers 107
James’ Stats: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 3PM, 62.5% FG, 29 MIN
For the second straight year, the Lakers opened the season on the road against a defending champion. And for the second straight year, they came up short. James posted a team-high 21 points, but was overpowered by Denver’s trio of 20-point scorers in the loss.
Oct. 22, 2024: Lakers 110, Timberwolves 103
James’ Stats: 16 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 3PM, 43.8% FG, 35 MIN
History was made during the Lakers’ season-opening win as LeBron and Bronny James became the first father and son to play in the NBA at the same time, let alone on the same team. The duo checked into the game together in the second quarter, a moment James summed up with a four-word social post after the win: “Wow, that was surreal.”
Nov. 18, 2025: Lakers 140, Jazz 126
James’ Stats: 11 PTS, 3 REB, 12 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 3PM, 57.1% FG, 30 MIN
For the first time in his career, James did not play in his team’s season opener, as he missed the Lakers’ first 14 games due to sciatica. However, when he took the court against the Jazz on Nov. 18, he became the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons, while putting up a points-assists double-double in the win.
