LeBron James made his Philadelphia 76ers debut Saturday, Oct. 3, at the team’s Blue x White scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena. At 41, he looked nothing like a man about to start a record 24th NBA season. In front of about 10,000 fans who paid $10 a ticket, Lebron threw down lob dunks, buried a deep step back 3 and whipped a behind the back pass that brought the building to its feet.
Those highlights are what spread first. The part worth staying for came later, on the bench, and it says more about where James is in life than any dunk.
How did LeBron James play in his first Sixers scrimmage?
He played like he forgot the calendar. The Sixers didn’t keep an official box score and played three 10 minute quarters, each starting with the scoreboard tied at 80 to simulate late game pressure. The starting five of James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid opened with a 14 to 5 burst for the Blue team.
Maxey found Lebron in transition for an early lob, and James hung on the rim while the crowd lost its mind. He pushed the ball ahead to Embiid for a 3 from the top of the key and later drilled his signature step back triple from the wing. He sat after the first game, which was all fans needed to see.
The effort was not a show for the cameras. Before tipoff, Mike Gansey told reporters that James had been diving for loose balls in practice, which helped convince the team to compete for real in the scrimmage.
Why did LeBron James wear No. 9 for the Sixers?
Public address announcer Matt Cord, who came out of a short retirement largely for this moment, introduced James as No. 23. In practice gear, though, he has worn No. 6 for most of his career, and Philadelphia retired that number for Julius Erving. So James went with No. 9. Fans still packed the team stores for No. 23 jerseys.
O tio LeBron James cuidando da filha do Tyrese Maxey. pic.twitter.com/ddC3X7bqs7
— Matchup Brasil | NBA 🇧🇷🏀 (@MatchupBR) October 3, 2026
What does LeBron James bring to Philadelphia?
James signed with the Sixers as a free agent this summer after averaging 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he said he is willing to fill whatever role the team needs. His arrival has also lit a fire under Embiid, who has been a full participant in camp and looked leaner. Embiid finished a driving lefty dunk and then joked it might be the last of his career.
Philly fans are buying in with real money. Seats in the 100 level for the Oct. 22 home opener against Cleveland are going for around $1,000 on the resale market. The preseason starts Monday at home against the New York Knicks, and the regular season opens Oct. 20 in New York against the defending champions.
What LeBron James moment did most fans miss?
After the scrimmage, James called his first week smooth and said everyone has welcomed him. He also admitted the harder adjustment is off the floor, dealing with travel and being away from his family.
Then there was the bench. During the scrimmage, James bounced Maxey’s baby daughter, Marvel, on his knee. The NBA posted a clip of Maxey holding her with a caption about dad duties. Maxey announced Marvel’s arrival earlier this year and is just starting to bring his child into his basketball life.
James knows the other end of that road. He is a father to Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri, and on Oct. 22, 2024, he and Bronny became the first father and son to play together in an NBA game.
So picture the full scene. A 41 year old legend who just admitted he misses his family spent part of his debut holding a teammate’s newborn. The internet called it babysitting. It looked more like a man who knows exactly how fast those years go.
