LeBron James pulled on a Philadelphia 76ers jersey in a game for the first time on Friday, making his preseason debut in a 114-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
James finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in 18 minutes. All of his scoring efficiency at the line stood out: he went 8-for-8 on free throws. He started alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and rookie VJ Edgecombe, giving Philadelphia fans a first look at a starting five that has generated enormous attention since the summer.
As planned, James sat out the entire second half, a standard preseason precaution for a veteran of his mileage. The Nets took advantage of Philadelphia’s rotations after halftime to close out the win.
Canadian basketball fans have more than a passing interest in this experiment. The Toronto Raptors share the Atlantic Division with Philadelphia, so every look at how James fits beside Embiid is also a scouting report for the Raptors’ coaching staff. A healthy, managed-minutes James changes the math of the Eastern Conference, and Toronto will face this group four times in the regular season.
Preseason results mean little, and Friday’s game will be remembered mostly for the sight of James in a new uniform. The real questions, how the ball moves when Embiid and James share the floor in crunch time, and whether the minutes plan keeps him fresh into spring, will take weeks to answer.
For one night in October, though, the experiment looked functional. James played within the offence, created shots for others and left the game healthy. For Philadelphia, that is exactly what a preseason debut is supposed to deliver.
The 76ers continue their preseason schedule next week, with James expected to build his minutes gradually.
