LeBron James shines in pre-season debut for revamped Philadelphia 76ers

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

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, announced in July that he had signed a two-year, $8m 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, entering a record-extending 24th NBA season, won two titles with Miami, another with Cleveland and a fourth with the Lakers. He is aiming to help the Sixers win their first championship since Julius Erving led the team to the title in 1983.

Thursday’s game marked his first chance to play alongside new teammates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, who arrived from the Boston Celtics.

James scored 10 points, making his only shot from the field and all eight of his free-throw attempts. He added four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18 minutes and four seconds, all in the first half.

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

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

James smoothly directed the Sixers’ offense during his time on the floor, recording 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 regular season against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on 20 October.

James’s arrival has already left the 76ers contending with distractions away from the court.

The superstar took to Instagram to dispute a claim made by a play-by-play announcer during the team’s first pre-season game on Monday that he had admonished Embiid for arriving late to practice.