The 2026-27 NBA season is going to look a lot different than last season because several superstars, including LeBron James, changed teams.
With an off-season largely defined by player movement, it wasn't exactly a normal summer for NBA front offices. In fact, in addition to LeBron, three others who were named NBA Finals MVP also changed teams and will suit up for a new franchise.
Per the league office, that means this is the first time in history that four different NBA Finals MVP winners all changed teams in the same summer.
LeBron famously left his son and the team where he won the 2020 NBA championship to join the Philadelphia 76ers. Jaylen Brown was traded from the Celtics, where he was drafted in 2016 and won NBA Finals MVP in 2024, and now
plays for the 76ers as well.
Additionally, of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo will play outside Milwaukee (where he won 2021 NBA Finals MVP) for the first time in his career now that he is on the Miami Heat.
Kawhi Leonard, after signing with the Clippers in 2019, was traded back to the Toronto Raptors — where he was named NBA Finals MVP earlier that yer.
In addition, two other players who were named All-Stars last season (Norman Powell and Brandon Ingram) will suit up for new teams as well. That marks the third time that at least six All-Stars from the previous season all changed squads.
Other notable names (e.g. LaMelo Ball from Charlotte Hornets to Minnesota Timberwolves, Ja Morant from Memphis Grizzlies to Portland Trail Blazers, Paul George from 76ers to Boston Celtics) will have new digs as well. Julius Randle went from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Brooklyn Nets while Tyler Herro went from the Heat to the Bucks.
When each NBA star will play first game against new team
- Nov. 10: Paul George returns to Philadelphia to face the 76ers with the Celtics (NBC/Peacock).
- Nov. 18: Tyler Herro returns to Miami to face the Heat with the Bucks (ESPN).
- Nov. 23: Julius Randle returns to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves with the Nets (Peacock).
- Dec. 25: LeBron James returns to Los Angeles to face the Lakers with the 76ers (ABC/ESPN).
- Jan. 21: Jaylen Brown returns to Boston to face the Celtics with the 76ers (Prime Video).
- Jan. 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to Milwaukee to face the Bucks with the Heat (Prime Video).
- Feb. 6: Ja Morant returns to Memphis to face the Grizzlies with the Trail Blazers (Prime Video).
- Feb. 15: LaMelo Ball returns to Charlotte to face the Hornets with the Timberwolves (NBC/Peacock).
All of these dates are worth highlighting on a calendar for basketball fans who may want to see stars play with an extra chip on their shoulder.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA offseason chaos perfectly summarized by 1 mind-blowing stat
