LeBron James suffered defeat in his first pre-season outing for the Philadelphia 76ers as they fell 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets ahead of his final NBA campaign.
The 41-year-old American joined Philadelphia in July, describing the deal as his final NBA contract after a career spanning more than two decades.
James contributed 10 points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal in 18 minutes during the first half.
Despite the loss, the four-time NBA champion expressed confidence in the team’s potential, acknowledging that building chemistry would take time, BBC Sport reported on Friday.
“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 shared the court with new teammates Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey, while Jaylen Brown finished as the leading scorer with 18 points.
Philadelphia signed James after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He previously represented the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, winning championships with all three franchises — two with Miami and one each with Cleveland and the Lakers.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is preparing for a record-extending 24th season and has appeared in 22 consecutive All-Star Games.
James will now aim to help Philadelphia end its 43-year wait for an NBA championship as the team continues preparations for the new season.
