LeBron James‘imprint on art Sixers it is already obvious, because he changed everything: from the atmosphere in the locker room to the style of play on the court, he writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Jones notes that James is adjusting to an entirely new lineup for the first time since he signed with the Lakers in 2018. After deciding to leave his home and family in Los Angeles to play on the other side of the country, he finds solace in basketball.
“Every day gets better and obviously … some days are going to be better than others,” James said. “But when I get to the facility and when I get around those guys, it definitely helps. We have good energy and good vibes. Obviously, the game of basketball, what it brings to all of us is a sense of togetherness and fun. It’s fun to go to work.”
Jones says James brought a standard to Philadelphia that comes from one of the most successful careers in NBA history. He still comes to practice early and often does a practice session before the official session begins. His approach to the game has led to titles everywhere he’s played and it’s already rubbing off on his new teammates.
James played primarily as a playmaker in his preseason debut last week, dishing out five assists in the first quarter. He wants the Sixers to maximize their talent by moving the ball up the court quickly and battling defenses.
“I think it’s always important to just be able to attack before the defense is established,” he said. “So any time we can get some early transition points or early attacks against the defense, we want to be able to do that. VJ (Edgcombe)you have Tyrese (Maxi)you have Jaylen (Brown); we can close gaps, especially when they have a numerical advantage or even a one-on-one advantage. The other guys really won’t be able to stay in front of them.”
There are more from Philadelphia:
- coach Nick Nurse experimented with Brown at the dunker spot during the preseason, notes Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. He didn’t have much experience in that role in Boston, but this could be a way for Brown to get some easy points in a lineup full of scorers. “I’ve played different roles throughout my career” – said Brown. “So it’s not something I’m unfamiliar with. I feel like at this point in my career I can play any position anywhere at any time and be effective. So dunking is not something I’m unfamiliar with.”
- The Sixers are excited about the addition Dean Wadewho is expected to be a valuable role on a star-studded team, Aaronson adds in the same piece. During his time in Cleveland, Wade has shown that he can guard a variety of positions, hit open 3-pointers and find ways to score without the demands of the game.“He fits any basketball team on the planet” James said. “It takes guys like that to win.”
- Pavel George expressed fond memories of his time in Philadelphia when he made his preseason debut with Celtics on Saturday against his former team, trans Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). “I love these guys” said George. “… There’s still a brotherhood there, so it was great to see those guys and compete against them.”
