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LeBron James faces the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 25 as part of the NBA\u2019s Christmas Day showcase (ABC, ESPN).<\/p>\n
Return games \u2013 when a player visits his former team for the first time since leaving \u2013 have assumed a prominent place on the NBA schedule.<\/p>\n
Think LeBron James returning to Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Miami Heat. Or Kevin Durant going back to Oklahoma City for a game as a Golden State Warrior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or Klay Thompson playing at Golden State for the first time after joining the Dallas Mavericks. Or Luka Don\u010di\u0107 returning to Dallas for the first time after the Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
For the NBA\u2019s 2026-27 season, there are several prominent return games involving some of the league\u2019s best players, including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown.<\/p>\n
A look at some return games in the 2026-27 NBA regular season as players visit their former teams for the first time.<\/p>\n
NBA Schedule Release presented by @Ticketmaster<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Tu5ddCZglc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at notable return games:<\/p>\n LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n James made the surprise decision this summer to play for the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> after spending the past eight seasons with the Lakers. He returns to Los Angeles to play his former team on Dec. 25, part of the NBA\u2019s Christmas Day showcase (ABC, ESPN).<\/p>\n A LOADED CHRISTMAS DAY on ABC & ESPN! \ud83c\udf84<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf81 Wemby, Spurs visit Brunson and the defending champion Knicks in a rematch of last season\u2019s NBA Finals \u2014 NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n And while these aren\u2019t \u201creturn games\u201d in the modern sense, James also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He goes back to Cleveland on Nov. 6 (Prime Video) and Miami on Jan. 30 (ABC).<\/p>\n Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, Miami Heat<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, who drafted him No. 15 in the 2013 NBA Draft. He won two Kia MVPs with the Bucks and led them to the 2021 NBA title, earning Finals MVP. Portis was a key player for that same Bucks squad in their title season and beyond.<\/p>\n The Bucks traded both players to Miami<\/a> in the offseason, and Milwaukee remains dear to Antetokounmpo and his family. \u201cNo matter where I am, Milwaukee will always be my city, my team, my family,\u201d he said following the July trade.<\/p>\n The two return to Milwaukee for the first time on Jan. 28 (Prime) and take on the Bucks in Miami on Nov. 18 (ESPN).<\/p>\n Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n After 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics that included the 2024 title, two Finals appearances, 142 playoff games, six conference finals appearances and 2024 Finals MVP, Brown is with the 76ers following a stunning trade to a longtime Eastern Conference rival<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now teamed up with James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, Brown plays his former team in Boston on Jan. 21 (Prime Video). The Celtics visit Philadelphia on Nov. 10 (NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n Ja Morant, Portland Trail Blazers<\/p>\n Morant gets a fresh start with the Trail Blazers<\/a> after seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies where he was Kia Rookie of the Year, a two-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection in 2021-22. Morant and the Trail Blazers head to Memphis for a Feb. 6 game (Prime). He gets a crack at his former team on Oct. 29 in Portland (League Pass).<\/p>\n LaMelo Ball, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n The Kia Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and an All-Star the following season, Ball began his NBA career with Charlotte, which traded him to Minnesota<\/a> in July. Ball\u2019s first visit to his former team is on Feb. 15 (NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n Paul George, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n A nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA performer, the 76ers traded George to Boston in that blockbuster Jaylen Brown deal. George spent the past two seasons with the 76ers who entertain Boston at home for the first time this season on Nov. 10 (NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel\u2019el Ware, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n With Miami, Herro was an All-Star in 2025, Kia Sixth Man of the Year in 2021-22 and has averaged at least 20 points the past five seasons. The Milwaukee native visits his former team for the first time on Nov. 18 (ESPN). He will be joined by fellow long-tenured Heat teammates Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel\u2019el Ware after being included in the return for Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n Trae Young, Washington Wizards<\/p>\n Traded to Washington from Atlanta<\/a> in January, Young, a four-time All-Star, did not get a chance to play in Atlanta following the deal. That return game is scheduled for Nov. 6 (League Pass) as part of Emirates NBA Cup Group C play.<\/p>\n Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards<\/p>\n Another trade deadline acquisition by the Wizards<\/a> last season, Davis has yet to get a chance to return to Dallas to take on his former Mavericks teammates. He gets that first opportunity on March 11 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Mike Conley, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n Entering his 20th season, Conley spent the past three-plus seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and signed with the Celtics<\/a> this offseason, the first Eastern Conference team he will suit up for. He goes back to Minnesota Feb. 28 (NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n Naz Reid, Charlotte Hornets<\/p>\n Reid became a valuable rotation player in his seven seasons with the Timberwolves who signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2019 before ultimately trading him to Charlotte this offseason as part of the LaMelo Ball deal. He earned Kia Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 and finished fifth and fourth for the award the past two seasons. Reid and the Hornets will play in Minnesota on Jan. 29 (ESPN) as part of AWS NBA Rivals Week.<\/p>\n Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz<\/p>\n Another player who was traded in February<\/a> \u2013 from Memphis to Utah \u2013 and unable to visit his former team the remainder of the season, Jackson, a two-time All-Star and 2022-23 Kia Defensive Player of the Year, returns to Memphis for Utah\u2019s season opener on Oct. 21 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets<\/p>\n Randle spent just two seasons with the Timberwolves, helping them reach the Western Conference Finals in 2025 and the conference semifinals in 2026. Randle, who averaged 21.1 points last season, has a Nov. 23 game (Peacock\/NBCSN) on the schedule against Minnesota following an offseason trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mitchell Robinson, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n Robinson, a key reserve on New York\u2019s 2026 championship team, joined the Celtics<\/a> after spending his first eight seasons with the Knicks. Boston plays at Madison Square Garden for the first time in the 2026-27 season on March 14 (ABC).<\/p>\n Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n Dort, a top perimeter defender, and Wiggins helped Oklahoma City win a title in 2025 and reach the conference finals in 2026. They were traded to Atlanta<\/a> in separate transactions<\/a>, and the Hawks visit the Thunder on Nov. 18 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Isaiah Joe, Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n Joe averaged 10.2 points in 2024-25 and 11.1 points in 2025-26 for the Thunder. Detroit, in need of outside shooting, acquired Joe<\/a> (a 40.6% career 3-point shooter), and Joe is scheduled to play his former team in Oklahoma City on Dec. 22 (NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n Jerami Grant, Memphis Grizzlies<\/p>\n Grant had a productive four-season stint with Portland and was sent to Memphis as part of the Morant trade. Memphis visits Portland for the first time this season on Oct. 29 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n Even though Kessler played in just 63 games for the Utah Jazz over the past two seasons, including five games in 2025-26, the Lakers wanted the 7-foot-2 center and gave up two future first-round picks to get him in a sign-and-trade with Utah<\/a>. The Lakers-Jazz game in Salt Lake City is Oct. 25 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Miles Bridges, Phoenix Suns<\/p>\n Bridges played seven seasons for Charlotte and averaged at least 20 points and seven rebounds in three seasons and went 17.1 points and 5.8 rebounds last season for a Hornets squad that reached the play-in game format. Phoenix goes to Charlotte for a game on March 13 (League Pass) for Bridges\u2019 return following an offseason trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n Darius Garland, LA Clippers<\/p>\n Though Garland was traded from Cleveland to the LA Clippers<\/a> at last season\u2019s trade deadline, he didn\u2019t get a chance to play in Cleveland following the trade. He gets that opportunity this season on Dec. 31 (League Pass).<\/p>\n Zaccharie Risacher, Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n Risacher spent just two seasons with the Hawks, who selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Risacher can make a statement against his former team when the Mavericks play Atlanta on Jan. 2.<\/p>\n Norman Powell, Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n Playing for the Miami Heat last season, Powell made the All-Star team for the first time, averaging 21.7 points while shooting 47% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers. Powell and the Bulls play the Heat three times in less than two weeks: at Chicago Dec. 14 and at Miami Dec. 21 and Dec. 23.<\/p>\n Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n Hachimura was one of the Lakers\u2019 best players in the playoffs last season, especially with his 3-point shooting (56.9% in 10 games). Hachimura wanted to stay West so he moved across town and joined the Clippers. It\u2019s not a long wait for Hachimura to play the Lakers. The Clippers play at the Lakers Oct. 23.<\/p>\n Tobias Harris, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n Following his second stint with the Detroit Pistons in 2025-26, Harris added veteran depth to the Spurs who visit Detroit on March 27 (Prime Video).<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>,\u00a0find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udf81 Tatum, Celtics host Giannis and the Heat in Beantown
\ud83c\udf81 LeBron returns to LA to face Luka and the Lakers
\ud83c\udf81 Shai and Ant go\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/njuWV146ym<\/a><\/p>\n