LeBron James teams reach NBA Finals after 7-1 starts as 76ers open 8-1

Philadelphia has not reached the Finals since 2001.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 4m1 min read

PHI

Philadelphia 76ersNBA

What happened: Every team featuring LeBron James that opened a season with at least a 7-1 record has advanced to the NBA Finals, a mark reached five previous times in his career. The Philadelphia 76ers improved to 8-1 on the season following a 112-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Why it matters: Philadelphia holds the top seed in the Eastern Conference on a five-game winning streak but has not reached the NBA Finals since 2001. James' past conversion rate from strong starts underscores the postseason expectations for the franchise after an 8-1 opening run.

By the numbers: James is averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in 2026-27 through 7 games. Philadelphia sits first in the Eastern Conference at 8-1 in 2026-27 through 9 games on a five-game winning streak.

What to watch: Philadelphia looks to protect its conference lead as the regular season continues.

Sources

@YahooSports Nov 05, 2026 · 16:48 UTC

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LeBron James teams reach NBA Finals after 7-1 starts as 76ers open 8-1

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