LeBron James shines in preseason debut for 76ers

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first half in his preseason debut 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, USD 8 million 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 superstar is entering a record-extending 24th NBA season.

James won two championships with Miami, another with Cleveland and a fourth with the Lakers.

He is aiming to help Philadelphia win its first title since Julius Erving led the franchise to the championship 43 years ago.

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

James scored 10 points, making his only shot from the floor and all eight of his free-throw attempts.

He added four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18:04 of first-half action.

Brown led all scorers with 18 points.

Julius Randle had 14 points for the Nets, who outscored the Sixers 37-23 in the third quarter to take control.

Much of the attention, however, was on James, beginning with his first signature pregame chalk toss in a 76ers uniform.

James smoothly directed the Sixers’ offense while 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 preseason games, both against Boston, before opening the NBA regular season against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20.

James’ arrival has already put the 76ers in the middle of outside “noise.”

James took to Instagram to refute a report from a play-by-play announcer during the team’s first preseason game Monday that he had admonished Embiid for being late to practice.

“He ain’t been late, so stop the lie,” James posted.

James acknowledged at the team’s media day last month that such outside hubbub around the 76ers would be “doubled, tripled and quadrupled now that I’m here.”