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LeBron James acknowledged that the Philadelphia 76ers have significant room for growth after starting their NBA season with an impressive victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. James, 41, began his pursuit of a fifth NBA championship by contributing 14 points and seven assists in a 106-100 defeat of the reigning NBA champions at Madison Square Garden.
Despite the encouraging first win in a Philadelphia uniform, James remained grounded. "It's going to take some time," James said of the Sixers' new-look lineup. "It's just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did."
James was pleased that the Sixers demonstrated signs of development during Tuesday's opener. "We're still new to each other," he said. "We will have some bumps in the road at times. But I mean, I think tonight when we had those bumps in the roads we were able to use what happened previously and then make the adjustment."
James was the highest-profile addition to the Sixers' roster in the close season, joining a Philadelphia team also strengthened by the arrival of Jaylen Brown from Boston. James said Brown, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2024 during the Celtics' championship season, would help foster a winning culture in Philly.
"He's just another guy that can hold guys accountable because they understand, they see a guy that has gotten to the finish line," James said of Brown. "It's definitely very helpful. These guys that's been here are trying to be able to get to that point, obviously this is a marathon, and we're not going to do it in day one. But the experience that we have, the experience that we bring to this ball club, hopefully we can translate it to wins and more."
James intends to lead by example in the Sixers' locker room. "I'm there before everybody gets to the gym, and I'm one of the last ones to leave," James said. "I don't just be like telling guys to do it. I hold myself accountable, and if I'm not doing something, I want the guys to hold me accountable. So I think that that goes a long way."
Key Analysis
James's measured tone underscores the challenges of integrating a new roster, but his leadership and the addition of Brown provide a foundation for the Sixers to build on as the season progresses.
Originally reported by yahoo.