LeBron James scores 10 in 76ers debut as Nets win 114-108
LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er on the court. The 41-year-old played his first preseason game for Philadelphia on 8 October, scoring 10 points in a 114-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
He did not miss much. James played 18 minutes and four seconds, all in the first half, and went 1-for-1 from the field with an 8-for-8 night at the free-throw line. He added four rebounds, five assists and one steal, while handling the ball as a point forward — a bigger player who sets up the offense like a point guard — and committing two turnovers, according to Yahoo Sports.
The uniform is new. The resume is not. James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and is entering his 24th season. He won two championships with Miami, one with Cleveland and one with the Los Angeles Lakers. He announced in July that he had signed a two-year, $8m deal with Philadelphia, according to The Guardian.
Philadelphia is new-look in more than one spot. Jaylen Brown, who joined from the Boston Celtics, led all scorers with 18 points against Brooklyn. Head coach Nick Nurse envisions James setting the table for that offense, according to ESPN, and James had earlier called a team scrimmage a "great first step" for the group.
Preseason games do not count in the standings, and this one turned after the stars sat. Brooklyn outscored Philadelphia 37-23 in the third quarter to take control. Julius Randle scored 14 points for the Nets.
The tune-ups continue quickly. Philadelphia has two more preseason games, both against Boston, before the real games start. The Sixers open the regular season against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on 20 October.
What makes this stand out is the efficiency in limited time. One shot, eight free throws, five setups for teammates. For fans, this means the first glimpse was more organizer than scorer, and there will be bigger tests when the rotation plays full minutes.
