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LeBron James made his unofficial 76ers debut in a Philadelphia scrimmage, thrilling nearly 10,000 fans as he begins his record 24th NBA season.
Philadelphia — LeBron James made his unofficial debut for the Philadelphia 76ers in front of nearly 10,000 fans at the team's annual intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at their home arena. The 41-year-old NBA career scoring leader, who signed with the Sixers in the offseason, was introduced in the starting lineup by public address announcer Matt Cord, marking a historic moment for the franchise.
LeBron James Makes Sixers Debut
The scrimmage, typically held in Delaware on the home court of the Sixers' G League affiliate, was moved to Philadelphia this year to accommodate the anticipated crowd. Tickets were priced at $10, with 5,000 donated to local community groups and Sixers Youth Foundation grantee partners, raising more than $80,000 for the foundation. Fans packed the arena, crowded aisles, and bought No. 23 jerseys from team stores, eager to catch a glimpse of James in a Sixers uniform.
James, who wore No. 9 instead of his customary No. 6 because the latter is retired in honor of Julius Erving, participated fully in the scrimmage. He teamed with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe to offer a preview of a Sixers team hoping to meet championship expectations after years of underperformance.
He wasted no time making an impact, catching an alley-oop dunk from Maxey on the game's opening play and hanging on the rim. James also delivered a behind-the-back pass to Edgecombe and knocked down a long three-pointer. Off the court, he was seen bouncing Maxey's baby daughter, Marvel, on his knee, endearing himself to teammates and fans alike.
It was a great first step in a direction we are trying to go, James said. It was great to hear some cheers from our fans.
James emphasized that while the dunks and assists did not count officially, the experience was valuable for building chemistry. He noted that everyone has been super welcoming and that he is still adjusting to being away from his family, but called it a great first week.
Sixers Season Opener Against Knicks
The Sixers open the regular season on Oct. 20 in New York against the NBA champion Knicks. Their home opener is Oct. 22 against Cleveland, with secondary market tickets for the 100 level hovering around $1,000, a stark contrast to the $10 scrimmage tickets.
James was expected to play Monday in the first of four preseason games, marking the start of his record 24th NBA season. He expressed optimism about the preseason, saying it would be good to get out there with some of our guys to just get a rhythm, while also being careful not to overdo it.
The Sixers were encouraged that Embiid, who has been injury-prone, has been a full participant in camp and appears in leaner shape. Embiid even threw down a driving left-handed dunk and joked afterward that it was probably the last dunk of my career.
James acknowledged the warm reception from the city, saying, They have welcomed me with open arms, and I am getting more and more comfortable every day. The excitement around the team is palpable, and the scrimmage provided a tantalizing glimpse of what could be a transformative season for the franchise.
Please follow us on Google to support usLebron James Philadelphia 76Ers NBA Joel Embiid Tyrese Maxey Matt Cord Sixers Youth Foundation
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