LeBron James made a winning start to life with the Philadelphia 76ers, and his first game in a new jersey could hardly have come on a bigger stage. The 41-year-old opened his record 24th NBA season by helping Philadelphia beat the defending champions, the New York Knicks, 106-100 in their season opener at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The LeBron James 76ers debut spoiled New York’s championship celebrations, as the Knicks raised their title banner and received their rings before tip-off.
James finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes, playing a supporting role while his new teammates did much of the scoring. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, and Jaylen Brown added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first game since joining from Boston. The victory sent an early message that the rebuilt 76ers intend to challenge for the title the Knicks won last season.
FAKTA
- Result: Philadelphia 76ers 106, New York Knicks 100, at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
- LeBron James 76ers debut: 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes, in his record 24th NBA season.
- Top scorers: Tyrese Maxey 28 points for Philadelphia; Jalen Brunson 21 points for New York.
- Occasion: The Knicks raised their championship banner and received their rings before the game.
- Key moment: James filled in at centre late in the second quarter after Joel Embiid picked up his third foul.
- What is next: Philadelphia host Cleveland on Thursday; New York visit Boston on Friday.
LeBron James 76ers Debut: A New Chapter at 41
James extended his remarkable career in the off-season by signing for Philadelphia, and his debut showed a player willing to fit around a new team rather than dominate it. He took the fourth-most shots among the 76ers starters, behind Maxey, Joel Embiid and Brown, and spent much of the night setting up others and defending hard.
Speaking afterwards, James said he was still finding his rhythm after only a little more than two weeks with his new squad, but praised the way the team played together. He said Philadelphia had played exceptionally well, especially on defence, even though the shooting had not yet clicked. It was, he added, a good win to start the season.
The most unusual moment of his debut came late in the second quarter. With Embiid in foul trouble after collecting his third foul, it was Embiid himself who suggested that James slide over to centre to close the half. Philadelphia trailed 51-46 with 2:13 remaining in the quarter when Embiid checked out, and James took on the job of guarding six-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. The 76ers stayed within reach and went into half-time down 58-54.
Head coach Nick Nurse said the staff had already discussed using a smaller player on Towns because of the many pick-and-rolls New York run with Towns and Brunson. With Dean Wade out with a left ankle injury and back-up centre Ariel Hukporti already lost for the season after right Achilles surgery, the move also solved a short-term depth problem. Nurse said the experiment had worked very well over the long haul of the game.
Maxey and Brown Lead the Way as Knicks’ Party Falls Flat
While James adapted, Maxey and Brown carried the scoring load. Maxey shot 9-of-19 from the field, hit two three-pointers and made 8-of-9 free throws, adding five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks in a complete performance. Brown, playing his first regular-season game for Philadelphia, looked comfortable from the start and finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Philadelphia’s rebuilt bench also played its part. Anfernee Simons hit three three-pointers and fellow newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added two more, punishing a Knicks defence that focused too much attention on the bigger names. In total, Philadelphia added nine new players to their roster over the summer, and on this evidence the pieces are already beginning to fit.
For New York, the night that began with a celebration ended in frustration. Brunson, the Finals most valuable player last season, scored 21 points but shot only 6-of-19 from the field. Towns finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but the Knicks shot just 37 percent overall and 33.3 percent from three-point range. Before the game, Brunson had told the Madison Square Garden crowd that the team would love to repeat the joy the city felt in the summer. On this showing, there is work to do.
The result will not decide anything in October, with 81 games still to play for both teams. But opening night belonged to Philadelphia, and to a 41-year-old beginning yet another chapter in one of basketball’s greatest careers. For more sports coverage, visit Watan News International.
