James opens 24th campaign against champs

NEW YORK — There was a plausible scenario where LeBron James would open his record 24th NBA season at Madison Square Garden — only in a New York Knicks uniform.

His agent, Rich Paul, said over the summer the Knicks would have been James' first choice in free agency had New York not won its first NBA championship since 1973 last season.

It's the thrill of the chase, to end a championship drought — much like he did in Cleveland — that in part drives James to keep playing after racking up a list of accomplishments unrivaled by his modern-day peers.

It's why James opened the season Tuesday wearing No. 23 for the Philadelphia 76ers instead of the home team.

While the spotlight was on the Knicks as they raised their championship banner, all eyes were on James as the ball tipped off on his debut with the Sixers.

The 76ers amalgamated a potent lineup this summer in hopes of winning their first NBA title since 1983. James and fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown started alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

There are some natural questions on how that starting four plus Edgecombe will coexist when all have been primary ball handlers on their teams in the past. Watching the answers unfold in real time will be fascinating for the Sixers and their fans.

“We're just getting together,” James said after the Sixers' pre-season finale. “It's not going to be perfect. We've got some things to build on.”

The off-season all the way through the countdown to the Sixers' home opener Thursday against Cleveland has been a swirl of excitement in Philly. James jerseys are flying off the racks. Murals of him have popped up all over the city. He drew more than 10,000 fans to a public scrimmage and pre-season games sold out.

Knicks coach Mike Brown has one of the longer professional relationships in the NBA with James. Brown coached the Cavaliers from 2005-10 until he was fired, but the duo led the franchise to the 2007 NBA Finals.

Brown said at a pre-season game earlier this month in Philadelphia it was easy to be awed by all that James has accomplished.

“Year 24 is insane,” Brown said. “It's unheard of. It's not human. People talk about (Victor Wembanyama) being not human because of what he can do for his size. You kind of throw LeBron in that category because of his durability and still doing it at the age that he has at a high level. It's amazing to watch.”

A four-time NBA champ with three teams, James is the NBA's career scoring leader. The leader in games, minutes, field goals and field goals attempted, too.

There's not much left to accomplish, except win that fifth ring. Philadelphia is waiting.

— The Associated Press