LeBron James, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who left Cleveland for Miami in July, will make his debut for the Heat at Boston on Oct 26 in the NBA season opener, the league announced on Tuesday.

James joined pals Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Heat roster and was joined by Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, another former Cavaliers star, on a Heat squad that is expected to challenge for the championship in 2011.

Miami will meet the reigning Eastern Conference champion Celtics - led by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. James and the Heat will visit Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Dec 25 in a Christmas showdown that tops five games to be played on the holiday.