LeBron James Makes 76ers Preseason Debut With 10 Points, 5 Assists in Loss to Nets
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is a city in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (a consolidated city-county). LeBron James played his first game in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform on October 8 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Nets won the preseason matchup 114-108. According to Heavy and game reports, James finished with 10 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in about 18 minutes; he was credited with just one official field-goal attempt, and all five of his assists came in the first quarter as he focused on setting up teammates.
James' move to Philadelphia was the NBA's most closely watched offseason story, and his preseason debut drew a large crowd and heavy media attention. The Sixers' staff kept his minutes limited, using the game primarily to build chemistry within the starting group.
Preseason results do not count in the regular-season standings, and teams use them to test rotations and new additions. As Philadelphia's exhibition schedule continues, how James meshes with the team's core will be the city's biggest storyline heading into the new season.
James arrived in Philadelphia after years with the Los Angeles Lakers, a move widely read as a major variable in the Eastern Conference race. The 76ers play in South Philadelphia's stadium district, alongside the NFL Eagles and MLB Phillies, and home game days are a fixture of the city's sports calendar. Though it was only a preseason game, images of James in a 76ers uniform spread quickly on social media and team-store merchandise followed. Philadelphia media note that management's stated ambition this season is a championship run, with James' experience and playmaking central to the plan; managing the veteran's minutes so he peaks in the playoffs will be a season-long task for the coaching staff. The team has not yet announced his availability for the next exhibition game.
Photo: Philadelphia City Hall tower, c. 1911, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, Detroit Publishing Company (Library of Congress)
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Photo: 图：勒布朗·詹姆斯比赛中投篮（资料图）。摄影：Bryce，CC0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
