The Philadelphia 76ers will head into the 2026-27 season with their eyes on reaching the mountaintop in the NBA. The Sixers have a lot of talent on this roster after a busy offseason under the guidance of President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey, adding to a team that has not been past Round 2 since 2001 nor a title since 1983.
It started with the Sixers finding a way to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a deal that sent Paul George up to Boston before Philadelphia won the waiting game and landed LeBron James in free agency. Those additions automatically make them rivals with certain teams as it ups their rivalry with Boston and now the Golden State Warriors are on their radar in the rivalry department.
ESPN ranked the top
10 rivalries heading into the 2026-27 season and the one between James and Warriors star Steph Curry comes in ranked No. 6 on the list:
James and Curry were at the peak of their powers when their rivalry began at the dawn of the Warriors' dynasty in 2015, but the two are no longer quite at that level. James will celebrate his 42nd birthday during this upcoming season, and Curry will turn 39.
Yet a decade after they dueled in four straight Finals, every matchup between the two future Hall of Famers is still must-see TV. They're still talented enough -- both were deserving All-Stars last season -- to entertain, and there's simply so much history infused in all their meetings. Every time James beckons Curry into an isolation, and every time Curry pulls up for a 3-pointer over James' outstretched hand, it brings back the memories of so many high-stakes shots between the two defining players of this era.
It is always must-see TV when these two great players match up, but the Sixers and Warriors won't match up until late in the season. The Sixers will face the Warriors on the road on March 24 on the second night of a back-to-back and then Golden State heads to Philadelphia on March 31. One has to wonder if James or Curry will play in either matchup when considering the playoffs will be right around the corner at that point in the season.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: LeBron James vs. Steph Curry ranked among top rivalries of 2027 season
