The Philadelphia 76ers just kicked off their NBA season by snatching a 106-100 victory over the New York Knicks. And yeah, it gets better: they did it on the night the defending champion Knicks received their rings for winning the 2026 NBA Finals! LeBron James, who just joined the 76ers this summer as a free agent, confirmed he absolutely enjoyed that win. “I do. It’s pretty special,” James told NBC Sports’ Zora Stephenson. You just know he loved that.
LeBron’s 76ers Debut: Rhythm Still Coming, But The Intent Is Clear
It’s his 24th season in the league, man, and King James is still out here making statements. After the game, he was straight up about his own play, telling Stephenson, “I could be a lot better.” He admitted he’s “still getting my rhythm,” with just “a little bit over two weeks with the new squad.” But even with that, his numbers for the night were solid. He dropped 14 points, snagged nine rebounds, and dished out a team-high seven assists, all with just one turnover at Madison Square Garden. He shot 5-of-13 from the field, though he missed all three of his attempts from behind the arc. Seriously, imagine being *that* honest about wanting more after a debut like that. It speaks volumes.
He wasn’t just on offense either, picking up one block and one steal. That defensive effort to open his season is exactly what you want to see from a guy who’s been around the block as much as he has. He’s not coasting, he’s still making plays on both ends.
Winning Is The Only Mission For This New Squad
Even with his personal performance not quite where he wants it, James was feeling good about the team’s overall effort. “I like the way we played. I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively,” he said. He knows the shooting wasn’t ideal, but he’s got faith: “Didn’t shoot the ball well but we have capable shooters, we know that.” The bottom line for him is always the win, and he emphasized it: “Good win for us to start the season.” He added, “It’s about winning. Just trying to make plays to win. Very familiar with every scenario that this game has offered. Blessed to be able to play still at this level and blessed to be able to play in this building. This building is so special, so it’s fun.”
The 76ers are now sitting pretty at 1-0 to start the season, and man, what a way to do it. You gotta be hyped for what this team could do, especially with LeBron still bringing that championship mentality and the ability to spoil an opposing team’s biggest night. What a statement right out of the gate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply