LeBron James is poised to make his Philadelphia 76ers debut against the defending NBA champions, the New York Knicks, at Madison Square Garden on October 20, marking the season's opening night.

This highly-anticipated matchup headlines the NBA's announcement of its "signature" fixtures. James, a four-time NBA champion, signed with the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract in July. His first home game in Philadelphia will take place on October 22, where he will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with which he secured an NBA title in 2016.

The opening night of the season will also feature a clash between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons at 8 PM UK time, followed by a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

On Christmas Day, fans can look forward to James's return to Los Angeles, where he will face his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The day's lineup includes:

• San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks (NBA Finals rematch)
• Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics
• Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
• Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors

Additionally, the NBA has announced that Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will travel to Paris in January to compete against the New Orleans Pelicans, followed by a historic game in Manchester at the Co-op Live Arena.