James shines in pre-season debut for re-tooled 76ers

NEW YORK – NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first half in his first pre-season game for Philadelphia on Oct 8, but the new-look 76ers fell 114-108 to the Nets in Brooklyn.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, announced in July that he had signed a two-year, US$8 million (S$10 million) deal with the 76ers, ending weeks of speculation over where the four-time NBA champion would land as a free agent after eight seasons and one title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 41-year-old superstar, entering a record-extending 24th NBA season, won two titles with Miami, another with Cleveland and a fourth with the Lakers and is aiming to help the Sixers win their first title since Julius Erving led the club to the crown 43 years ago.

The game on Oct 8 marked his first chance to line up alongside new teammates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown – a new arrival from the Boston Celtics.

James scored 10 points, connecting on his lone shot from the floor and making all eight of his free-throw attempts. He added four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18min 4sec in the first half.

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

But all eyes were on James, starting with his first signature pre-game chalk-toss in a 76ers uniform.

James smoothly directed the Sixers offence in his time on the floor, making all five of his assists in the first quarter and combining effectively with Maxey.

“I think there was some really good things happening, you know, right off the bat,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after seeing his starters together for the first time.

“A bunch of back cuts and good passing et cetera... there were segments where obviously we turned the ball over a lot... just the little clunky segments, too. But, again, it’s pre-season, first time they’re together.

“I think you look at it as what’s good and what are the learning experiences, things that we can improve.”

The 76ers have two more pre-season games, both against Boston, before opening the NBA regular season against the defending champions New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct 20.

James’ arrival has already found the 76ers battling outside “noise”.

He took to Instagram to refute a report from a play-by-play announcer during the team’s first pre-season game on Oct 5 that James had admonished Embiid for being late to a practice.

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

James had acknowledged at the team’s media day in September that such outside hubbub around the 76ers would be “doubled, tripled and quadrupled now that I’m here”. AFP