{"id":870073,"date":"2026-10-04T03:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T03:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870073\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T03:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T03:48:15","slug":"james-was-balling-in-the-76ers-open-scrimmage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870073\/","title":{"rendered":"James was balling in the 76ers\u2019 open scrimmage"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Newest Sixer LeBron James teased fans about what to expect for this upcoming season during open practice.<\/p>\n

PHILADELPHIA (AP) \u2014 The 76ers\u2019 public address announcer ended a brief retirement over the summer in large part to get behind the mic and do what he did for the first time ahead of the team\u2019s annual scrimmage.<\/p>\n

Matt Cord introduced LeBron James in the Sixers\u2019 starting lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 6-9, from St. Vincent-St. Mary\u2019s, No. 23, LeBron James! James!\u2019<\/p>\n

Close to 10,000 fans who plunked down $10 a ticket on Saturday to essentially witness a glorified practice at the Sixers\u2019 home arena went wild for James\u2019 debut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bron buckets in South Philly \ud83e\udea3 pic.twitter.com\/mXfuhqDgsA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

No, James didn\u2019t wear No. 23. He historically wore No. 6 over his career in practice gear but with that number retired in Philadelphia because of Julius Erving, James went with No. 9.<\/p>\n

No, the dunks and 3s and assists didn\u2019t count in any official capacity. And no, James wasn\u2019t even introduced last. That honor remained reserved for Joel Embiid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What the new 41-year-old on the block did do was give \u2014 along with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe \u2014 a sneak preview that maybe, just maybe, the long underperforming Sixers might finally rise to the moment this season and meet their championship expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great first step in a direction we\u2019re trying to go,\u201d James said. \u201cIt was great to hear some cheers from our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

file this under things we love to see: pic.twitter.com\/jIvCXILCvl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Sixers fans that crammed aisles and stairways trying to catch a first glimpse or a snapshot of James were shooed back to their seats. Vendors hawked James merchandise outside the arena and told fans they could own the first pieces of his merchandise. Sixers fans that inched near the court screamed and outright begged James to stop and turnaround and pose for pictures. They also crammed into team stores buying No. 23 jerseys.<\/p>\n

The Sixers started the scrimmage early with what they hope is a familiar sight: Maxey in transition hit James for an alley-oop dunk. James hung and swung on the rim for a few seconds.<\/p>\n

James made a nifty behind-the-back pass to Edgecombe (who missed a corner 3) and even squared up and buried a long 3 from about Caitlin Clark range.<\/p>\n

James did it all \u2014 he even bounced Maxey\u2019s baby daughter, Marvel, on his knee for a moment on the bench.<\/p>\n

No word yet on James\u2019 hourly babysitting rate.<\/p>\n

Not a bad first week in Philadelphia for the NBA\u2019s career scoring leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s been super welcoming,\u201d James said. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to implement some things with my voice and just my command of how I play the game and my experience playing the game. I\u2019m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor, with travel and without my family and things of that nature. That\u2019s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but everything\u2019s been good so far. Great first week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sixers traditionally hold the scrimmage in Delaware on the home court of their G League team. The Sixers donated 5,000 tickets to local community groups and Sixers Youth Foundation grantee partners and more than $80,000 was raised for the Sixers Youth Foundation.<\/p>\n

The $10 tickets were a deal. They are hovering around $1,000 a ticket for the 100 level on the secondary market for the Sixers\u2019 Oct. 22 home opener against Cleveland.<\/p>\n

James was expected to play Monday in the first of four preseason games and mark the start of his record 24th NBA season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be good to get out there with some of our guys to just get a rhythm,\u201d James said. \u201cAt the same time, also not overdo it. We\u2019re putting a lot into our practices right now. We\u2019re fine-tuning what we want to do once the game comes. I think there will be opportunities once we get out there in the preseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philadelphia opens the season Oct. 20 in New York against the NBA champion Knicks.<\/p>\n

James and the rest of the Sixers were encouraged that the oft-injured Embiid has been a full participant in camp and seems to be in leaner, lighter shape. Embiid pulled off a driving left-handed dunk in the scrimmage and later joked; it was \u201cprobably the last dunk of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerseys flew off the racks, Sixers flew through the air, and excitement swirled around the team and for all that James brings to the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve welcomed me with open arms,\u201d James said, \u201cand I\u2019m getting more and more comfortable every day.\u201d<\/p>\n