The date is officially set.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will open their season on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd.

This is the sixth consecutive season that Cleveland will begin away from home. The Cavs previously played the Knicks last season.

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Cleveland will have a chance to measure itself against a team that they have been intrinsically linked to this offseason. Not only did the 76ers beat them in the hunt for LeBron James, but they also made the second-biggest splash of the offseason by trading for Jaylen Brown, as well. Many have speculated that Philly’s moves to upgrade their roster are what put them ahead of the Cavs in acquiring LeBron.

It’s unclear if the Cavs actually had a chance to sign James this summer. There’s no concrete evidence that James would have landed in Cleveland if they had been the ones to trade for Brown instead. That’s only speculation. But in this league, even the most unreliable rumor can be used as fuel for the fire.

The Cavs should view this opening game as an opportunity to make a statement. Even more than usual. This is their chance to flex their continuity and deliver a message to the league that Philly hasn’t passed them overnight. Cleveland’s been one of the best teams in the league for five consecutive seasons. They shouldn’t be prepared to fall behind the race just because another Eastern Conference team made a splash this summer.

A few other games for the 2026-27 season were announced today.