LeBron James admitted it will take time for his new team-mates to gel after the Philadelphia 76ers slipped to a 114-108 pre-season defeat by the Brooklyn Nets on his debut. The 41-year-old American, who joined the 76ers in July for what he says will be his final NBA contract, scored 10 points with four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18 first-half minutes.
"We're still trying to put each other in the position to be successful and complement each other the best way we can on the floor. But it's going to take some time," James said. "Tonight was a good sample size for us to build on."
James, the NBA's all-time leading points scorer entering a record-extending 24th season, played alongside Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. Brown led the scoring with 18 points for Philadelphia.
The forward arrives at the 76ers after eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, having previously won championships with the Miami Heat (two) and the Cleveland Cavaliers. A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 22-time All-Star, he is targeting a first Philadelphia title in 43 years.
