LeBron James scores 14 in 76ers debut as Philadelphia beat champion Knicks 106-100

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100 in the season opener for both teams. LeBron James scored 14 points and had nine rebounds in his debut for Philadelphia.

James, 41, is beginning a record 24th NBA season. The 76ers are his fourth NBA team. He joined them after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points. Jaylen Brown, acquired from the Boston Celtics, had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first game for Philadelphia. According to BBC Sport, Brown arrived in a trade that sent Paul George to Boston. Joel Embiid had 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds. The Knicks led 58-54 at halftime. The 76ers took the lead in the third quarter. According to The Guardian, the Knicks shot 37% overall, and Brunson made 6 of 19 shots.

Before the game, the Knicks raised their championship banner at Madison Square Garden. Last season they beat the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals for their first title since 1973.

In other games, the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121-113, helped by a 23-0 run. Paul George scored 38 points on his Celtics debut. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points. Victor Wembanyama scored 12 points but made one of 13 field-goal attempts. The Spurs had eliminated the Thunder in last season's Western Conference finals.

What is disputed

The reports differ on James's assists. Japan Times, BBC Sport and ESPN give seven. The Guardian gives six.

What each side says

James told broadcaster NBC, according to BBC Sport: "I could be a lot better. Still getting my rhythm, obviously just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad." He added: "But I like the way we played."

According to ESPN, Embiid said moving James to center after Embiid's third foul was his own idea. ESPN quoted him as saying he "wasn't going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls". ESPN reported that coach Nick Nurse said the staff had discussed this option before the game.

The Guardian quoted Brunson as telling fans before the game: "The joy that this city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again."

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include James's shooting figures or minutes played.

Analysis

One game offers limited evidence about a full season. Philadelphia's win suggests its new players can contribute quickly. James and Brown both arrived only recently. However, the 76ers' accounts of late-game adjustments, including James defending Towns, describe a single matchup. They may or may not reflect a lasting approach. For New York, poor shooting in one game does not show a broader trend. The Thunder-Spurs game was a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals, while BBC Sport described Pistons-Celtics as a meeting of last season's top two regular-season teams. These matchups may draw attention as the season develops. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not offer evidence on how these teams will perform over the longer term.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.