LeBron James had plenty to say in the Philadelphia 76ers’ season-opening win over the New York Knicks, and not all of it stayed between the lines.
Philadelphia came out on top Tuesday, spoiling New York’s ring ceremony and giving James an early chance to show what this revamped 76ers group can do. Afterward, James said he liked what he saw, even if the shot-making wasn’t there.
“I feel a lot better. Still getting my rhythm.
Obviously, you know, just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad. I like the way we play.
I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively. We didnt shoot the ball well, but we have capable shooters.
We know that. It’s about winning.
Just trying to make plays to win,” James said.
The defensive effort stood out, but James also found himself in the middle of the game’s noise. At one point, he was caught jawing with a fan, and the back-and-forth seemed to fire him up. Later, a hot mic picked up him taking issue with the officiating and suggesting the Knicks were already getting the kind of whistle that comes with a title.
“They win one chip they get a championship whistle,” James said.
Philadelphia was whistled for one more foul than New York, but James clearly wasn’t sold on how the game was being called. The comment added another layer to a night that already had some edge.
The 76ers’ roster has drawn plenty of attention, and not everyone is convinced it’s built for a real championship push. Jeff Teague, for one, said he isn’t buying the hype.
“Everybody got a lot of high hopes for the Sixers, I'm not a fan. I don't think they going to be that good.
I got them 4th seed in the East… It's too much sacrifice, who's going to sacrifice all that? The first time they go on a 4 game losing streak and they start saying something to Bron.
Well you know Bron is old, some sh*t going to happen," Teague said.
Now Philadelphia gets its first home crowd of the season on Thursday, with James set for another chance to leave his mark.
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Paul George Just Reopened An Uncomfortable 76ers Debate
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For the 76ers, it reopened an uncomfortable question about what exactly went wrong during Georges time in Philadelphia. Injuries were part of the answer, but so were the team dynamics around him, which never seemed to let his game breathe in the way it did against his new backdrop. If this is the beginning of a resurgence, it only sharpens the sense that the Sixers may have watched a different version of George emerge just as he moved on. [Read more 🡒]