When LeBron James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer, many wondered what his game would look like on a squad with a mix of veterans and young talent. They got their answer in a solid debut in the team’s second preseason game on Thursday night (October 8).
LeBron James thrilled the crowd at Barclays Center, who gave him heavy applause as he suited up for Philadelphia against the Brooklyn Nets. James was the center of a new look for the Sixers’ offense, handling the ball as a point forward.
“I mean, it felt a little different,” James said after the game, which the Sixers lost 114-108. “Obviously, just wearing a new uniform, but the game is the game. … And I was happy to be able to log some minutes with the guys that we’ve been going at each other in practice for the last two weeks.”
The role allowed him to direct the offense for some key stretches on the floor, and he would net ten points in his eighteen minutes of play, going to the line eight times as a result of sharp drives to the basket and post-up opportunities.
LeBron James also showed off his passing skills, dishing out five assists all in the first quarter. He’s a great, great passer; it was certainly on display tonight,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “There were a couple of long ones for layups, he threw some middle ones for layups and he threw some in the quarter court, guys cutting. … It was good. I thought he really read the game well.”
Guard VJ Edgecombe, who benefited from one of James’ early assists in a flashy lay-up after getting the pass from three quarters of the court away, also praised the 24-year veteran’s court awareness and ball handling. James’ directing the offense also benefited former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown and shooting guard Tyrese Maxey, who scored 18 and 14 points respectively.
The Sixers have two more preseason games before officially opening the regular season against the defending NBA
champion New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden (October 20). Nurse did promise that James and the other starters would see more action over those two games.
