LeBron James shines in pre-season debut for revamped Philadelphia 76ers

NBA super star LeBron James provided a strong first-half efficiency in his very first pre-season video game for Philadelphia on Thursday, however the new-look 76ers fell 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, revealed in July that he had actually signed a two-year, $8m handle the 76ers, ending weeks of speculation over where the four-time NBA champ would land as a complimentary representative after 8 seasons and one title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 41-year-old, going into a record-extending 24th NBA season, won 2 titles with Miami, another with Cleveland and a 4th with the Lakers. He is intending to assist the Sixers win their very first champion considering that Julius Erving led the group to the title in 1983.

Thursday’s video game marked his very first opportunity to play together with brand-new colleagues Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, who got here from the Boston Celtics.

James scored 10 points, making his only shot from the field and all 8 of his free-throw efforts. He included 4 rebounds, 5 helps and a take in 18 minutes and 4 seconds, all in the very first half.

Brown led all scorers with 18 points. Julius Randle had 14 for the Nets, who outscored the Sixers 37-23 in the 3rd quarter to take control.

All eyes were on James, beginning with his signature pre-game chalk toss, carried out for the very first time in a 76ers uniform.

James efficiently directed the Sixers’ offense throughout his time on the flooring, tape-recording all 5 of his helps in the very first quarter and integrating efficiently with Maxey.

< img alt =”LeBron James performs his signature pre-game chalk toss before making his Philadelphia 76ers debut against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night at Barclays Center.”src =”https://i0.wp.com/images.pmnsports.com/2026/10/pmn-0409365fbb6f5ca0.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1″width =”445″height =”296.64880163796215″loading =”lazy”>

LeBron James performs his signature pre-game chalk toss before making his Philadelphia 76ers launching versus the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night at Barclays. Photo: Jesse D Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

” I believe there was some actually advantages occurring, you understand, right off the bat,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse stated after seeing his beginners together for the very first time.

“A lot of back cuts and great death et cetera … there were sections where clearly we turned the ball over a lot … simply the little cumbersome sections, too. Once again, it’s pre-season, very first time they’re together.

“I believe you take a look at it as what’s excellent and what are the finding out experiences, things that we can enhance.”

The 76ers have 2 more pre-season video games, both versus Boston, before opening the routine season versus the safeguarding champ New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on 20 October.

James’s arrival has actually currently left the 76ers competing with interruptions far from the court.

The super star required to Instagram to challenge a claim made by a play-by-play commentator throughout the group’s very first pre-season video game on Monday that he had actually advised Embiid for getting here late to practice.

“He ain’t been late, so stop the lie,” James published.

James acknowledged at the group’s media day last month that the attention surrounding the 76ers would be “doubled, tripled and quadrupled now that I’m here.”