LeBron James begins final NBA season with defeat to Nets

LeBron James was named the NBA Finals' Most Valuable Player all four times his team won the NBA title Photo: GETTY IMAGES

LeBron James began his final NBA season with a defeat as the Philadelphia 76ers lost 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets in a pre-season game.

The 41-year-old American joined the 76ers in July, describing the move as his final contract in the NBA after a remarkable career spanning more than two decades.
James scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, recorded five assists and made one steal in 18 minutes of action in the first half.

As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, despite the defeat, James remained optimistic about his new team’s prospects, admitting that the players would need time to build chemistry and understand one another on the court.

“We’re still trying to put each other in the position to be successful and complement each other the best way we can on the floor. But it’s going to take some time,” James said.

“Tonight was a good sample size for us to build on.”

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James featured alongside new team-mates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey, while Jaylen Brown led the scoring with 18 points.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player joined Philadelphia after spending eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, having previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

James has won NBA championships with all three previous franchises, claiming two titles with Miami, one with Cleveland and another with the Lakers.

The league’s all-time leading scorer is preparing for a record-extending 24th NBA season and has been selected for the NBA All-Star Game in each of the previous 22 seasons.

He will now look to help the 76ers end their 43-year wait for an NBA championship as the team continues to develop its understanding ahead of the new campaign.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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