Caldwell Pope Joins Sixers Bench for Knicks Season Opener

Philadelphia will open its 2026-27 NBA campaign against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope expected to come off the bench as VJ Edgecombe returns to the starting lineup. The veteran guard's experience alongside LeBron James also offers insight into how the 41-year-old forward is approaching leadership during his first season with the 76ers.

According to CBS Sports, Caldwell-Pope started Philadelphia's preseason finale against Boston but will relinquish that position to Edgecombe for the regular-season opener. Caldwell-Pope could still receive additional playing time because Dean Wade is sidelined with an ankle injury.

The matchup also marks James' regular-season debut with Philadelphia after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 76ers are incorporating James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid into an offense that showed promising passing sequences but also committed turnovers during the preseason, according to reports from Yahoo Sports and Sixers Wire.

Caldwell-Pope, who played with James in Los Angeles from 2018 to 2021 and helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship, described the veteran forward's approach as consistent despite changes in how he leads a team.

"I don't think it ever changed," Caldwell-Pope told reporters, according to the New York Daily News.

Now reunited in Philadelphia, the two former Lakers teammates are working with a different supporting cast. Caldwell-Pope also emphasized that James continues to rely on his experience to manage the pace and create opportunities for teammates rather than focusing exclusively on scoring.

"He's still being LeBron, just doing it a different way."

Caldwell-Pope joined the 76ers on a one-year, $3.9 million contract after reaching a buyout agreement with Memphis, according to Yahoo Sports. He previously won another NBA championship with Denver in 2023, adding further postseason experience to Philadelphia's roster.

In a separate interview reported by Sixers Wire, Caldwell-Pope expanded on the qualities he has observed in James as the forward enters his 24th NBA season.

"I think it never changes," Caldwell-Pope said of James.

He explained that James' responsibilities increasingly center on directing teammates and controlling the rhythm of possessions. The 76ers are relying on that experience as their new lineup develops chemistry.

"For him, it's just more just being that team leader, slowing the pace down. Also, just getting everybody in the same position. I think he's still being LeBron, just doing it in a different way."

Caldwell-Pope also praised Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, who is 21 years old and entering his second NBA season. The veteran guard highlighted the young player's energy, enthusiasm and competitiveness ahead of the opening-night matchup.

"He's very energetic," Caldwell-Pope said of Edgecombe. "For me, he always seems happy. A game that he enjoys playing.

And he also showed every night--I love his competitiveness. And I think he'll be able to show it tonight with the work he's been putting in."

James' preseason performances offered an early look at his potential role as a facilitator. He recorded 10 points and five assists in the first half against Brooklyn on October 8, then finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes against Boston in a 125-120 overtime loss.

Philadelphia now faces the defending NBA champion Knicks in a season opener that includes New York's championship ring ceremony and banner celebration at Madison Square Garden. The game will test the 76ers' developing lineup as James begins his first regular season with the team and Edgecombe returns to the starting five.