The Brooklyn Nets announced their 2026 preseason schedule on Monday, revealing a compact four-game slate running from October 6 to 14. The schedule includes just one home game at Barclays Center, where the Nets will host the Philadelphia 76ers on October 8 at 7:30 p.m. This matchup may offer fans an early chance to see LeBron James in a 76ers uniform, although his participation is not guaranteed as teams often limit playing time for veteran stars during preseason contests.
Brooklyn’s preseason begins on October 6 with an away game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, followed by the home meeting with Philadelphia two days later. After a four-day break, the Nets travel to face the Washington Wizards on October 12 and conclude the exhibition period against a revamped Miami Heat squad on October 14. All four games are against Eastern Conference opponents, and the Nets will avoid playing on back-to-back nights.
The game against the 76ers stands out as the Nets’ only opportunity to see their team on home court before the regular season tips off, providing a preview not only of Brooklyn’s roster but potentially the early stages of James’ tenure in Philadelphia. The extended break between the 76ers and Washington games will give head coach Jordi Fernández and his staff time to evaluate performance and make necessary adjustments heading into the final two exhibition contests.
This marks the second consecutive year Brooklyn has scheduled just one preseason home game. Unlike last year’s trip to Macao for two games against Phoenix, the 2026 preseason involves no international travel, neutral-site games, or matchups against non-NBA teams.
The October 12 visit to Washington carries particular intrigue as it could feature the first NBA matchup between AJ Dybantsa, the number one overall pick from the June draft, and Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr., chosen sixth. Their meeting would bring together two of the draft’s highest-rated prospects less than four months after the draft concluded. Dybantsa enters as the presumed leader of his class, while Brown is poised to play a significant role for Brooklyn in his rookie season.
Brooklyn’s postseason schedule wraps with a game at Miami’s arena, where the Heat’s frontcourt now features stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Although the involvement of these players in the preseason is uncertain, their presence adds another level of interest to the Nets’ final exhibition matchup.
Individual tickets for the October 8 game against Philadelphia will be available for purchase starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster, while season-ticket memberships remain on sale. Additional single-game regular-season tickets and group packages will be released later. The preseason games will be broadcast on YES Network, which is marking its 25th season as the Nets’ television partner.
By the conclusion of the preseason, Fernández will have had the chance to assess his roster and rotation options, helping to shape the team that will open the 2026–27 NBA season.