LeBron James will reportedly take the court as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time during Thursday’s preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n
“The plan is, indeed, for LeBron James to make his preseason debut with the Sixers tonight against the Nets. Actually a shorter commute to play a road game than a home practice for LeBron,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on NBA Today while revealing Philadelphia will play its entire starting lineup that also features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.<\/p>\n
McMenamin added that the plan is for the starting lineup to play for approximately one half.<\/p>\n
There figures to be an adjustment period once the regular season begins seeing how James and Brown are marquee players who consistently have the ball in their hands joining a lineup that already has players like that in Embiid and Maxey.<\/p>\n
It is only natural to expect some growing pains, so any additional experience they can get during a preseason game is notable and should help once the regular season arrives.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia has two more preseason games remaining after Thursday’s contest, and both of them come against the rival Boston Celtics. It then begins its regular season on Oct. 20 against the reigning-champion New York Knicks.<\/p>\n
The 76ers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since reaching the 2001 NBA Finals, but expectations are significantly elevated after adding one of the greatest players of all-time in James and a five-time All-Star in Brown.<\/p>\n